tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69614456665191562602018-08-14T06:00:19.145-05:00Operation AwesomeWriters striving to achieve awesomeness... one word at a time.Karis Rogersonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1961125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-3041587728113656452018-08-14T06:00:00.000-05:002018-08-14T06:00:19.077-05:00Operation Awesome Angelica Jackson's Interview and New Cover Reveal #giveaway #CoverReveal #book<center><img alt="Crow's Nest new cover" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Book-pics/i-BXSVC7N/0/97f37043/XL/cover-XL.jpg" /></center><br /><center><BR><h2><span style="color: orangered;">A former Operation Awesome Team Member dropped by for an interview. Check out this amazing new book cover and great giveaway!</span></h2><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B07C881WP2&amp;asins=B07C881WP2&amp;linkId=6554e6f08c337859479fabe69464db9a&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/2Ofh0Qm">Crow's Rest: Faerie Crossed Book 1 by Angelica R. Jackson</a></center><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">1- Could you tell us a little more about the Pens for Paws Auction?</span><br /><br />I started P4P out of a desire to help a sanctuary where I was volunteering at the time, Fat Kitty City. They are unique for being a cage-free sanctuary for domestic cats--some of whom will live out their lives there, and others who are adoptable. FKC goes out of their way to take in special-needs cats, including those that are FIV+, and feral cats, too. I started volunteering there in 2008, mostly helping to photograph the kitties and to socialize them. These cats are extremely grateful for attention and a friendly lap!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CE0OOlSrFvY/W2fEyyKUHOI/AAAAAAAABdM/2_sa1bP_xwYLKoWo3zhpYuepTcfNQJ-4QCLcBGAs/s1600/lap-cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="#cats and Operation Awesome Angelica Jackson's Interview and New Cover Reveal #CoverReveal #book #ComingSoon" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CE0OOlSrFvY/W2fEyyKUHOI/AAAAAAAABdM/2_sa1bP_xwYLKoWo3zhpYuepTcfNQJ-4QCLcBGAs/s320/lap-cats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was trying to think of a way to fundraise for Fat Kitty City that would tap into my existing network of publishing contacts, so in 2012 I started putting the word out that I needed donations. The publishing community--including authors, editors, and agents--stepped up to offer some fantastic items for bid. I haven't quite managed to run the auction every year, since it's a one-woman show and I get overwhelmed trying to run the auction and manage my own book tasks. But I hope to revive it next year! <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">2- What five words represent your most notable characteristic or values? #In5Words</span><br /><br />Labeling makes Geminis deeply uncomfortable <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">3- What ignited your passion for writing?</span><br /><br />Spending a lot of time alone as a kid meant that I also spent a lot of time in my own head; the way I expressed myself was through drawing and writing. For a while, it was genuinely a tossup whether I was going to stick with art or writing as a career. Writing pulled ahead for a while, but I'm now trying to combine my art and writing in creative ways, whether that means cover art, interior design in my books, or even creating images for marketing campaigns. But reading is what really gave me the jumpstart to share my writing--it's so fascinating to spend some time in others' heads. <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">4- What was the best part of working with the Operation Awesome Team? </span><br /><br />The community! I knew I always had trusted friends who I could vent to, or ask questions of. We've had an amazing font of wisdom in our collective, and I love that it's continued to evolve. I learned so much during my tenure, with the biggest lesson about sharing your knowledge with others. <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">5- Would you share a picture with us of your book in a fun location?</span><br /><br />Of course! This is the signpost in my garden, with some of the destinations from my favorite books on it. So of course Crow's Rest is right at home perching on it! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqzkkwiuSls/W2fFW8LI2wI/AAAAAAAABdU/nJ42slFS0foe2Ccl_GncLin8YCo9J7MIACLcBGAs/s1600/signpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="sign post image Operation Awesome Angelica Jackson's Interview and New Cover Reveal #CoverReveal #book #ComingSoon" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqzkkwiuSls/W2fFW8LI2wI/AAAAAAAABdU/nJ42slFS0foe2Ccl_GncLin8YCo9J7MIACLcBGAs/s400/signpost.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">6- What is the most fun part about writing a story with Fae?</span><br /><br />Having come into urban fantasy after writing a heavily-researched historical novel, the most fun part is making up creatures! I used Celtic mythology as a jumping off point, but I also wanted to create authentically magical creatures that would make the reader wonder which ones are from established mythology and which are the "new" generation Note: I also think making up creatures is the hardest part, because I want them to be believable within the worlds I've also created. <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">7- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? <a href="https://diversebooks.org/">https://diversebooks.org</a> #WeNeedDiverseBooks </span><br /><br />My main character, Avery, shows some symptoms of mental health issues, which actually turn out to have a magical basis for her (I hope that's not a spoiler, haha). That aspect of her personality was born from my own lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression, and how my teenaged self wished there was some "better" reasoning behind me having that imbalance. Like, what if some of my obssessive traits (like my counting things, and seeking patterns and symmetry) were actually an advantage under different circumstances? What if in another world, in another situation, they would be the key to keeping me safe? <br /><br />Also, because so many of my Fae creatures swap bodies, they tend to be rather genderfluid. Occupying a male or female human is not better or worse--it just offers different sensations and opportunities. Many of them are shapeshifters, too, and their own gender is another thing they can manipulate at will (and I haven't explored it yet, but there does seem to be more than two genders in Faerie). <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">8- Which character has your favorite Personality Contradiction?</span><br /><br />That would be Avery again! She can be so oblivious to some things around her, especially in relationships, and yet she has an insightful side. A way of seeing past all the noise (which often leads to her calling bullshit on people, for better or worse). <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">9- What is something that you know you do differently than most people?</span><br /><br />Um, shop for clothing maybe? I just don't have the patience for it, so when I find something I like I buy it in five colors and call it a day. I do actually enjoy fashion and creating my outfits, I just hate wandering store aisles. I'll be happy when I can print outfits at home on a 3D printer. <br /><br /><div id="kingsumo-embed" data-url="https://kingsumo.com/g/djjtfq/win-an-audiobook-of-crows-rest"></div><script src="https://kingsumo.com/js/embed.js"></script><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">10- Anything else you would care to share about your books and yourself?</span><br /><br />The cover art for my Faerie Crossed series features my own photographs. What a great excuse to schedule a photoshoot at a haunted castle, amIright? My cover designer, Kelley York of X-Potions Design, worked closely with me to turn my art into a cohesive whole and I love the results. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSviq9tZAk8/W2fIPCzxsGI/AAAAAAAABdg/LAbWhGU95_sdyIcceq3W1eh9JAOyAK84wCLcBGAs/s1600/merlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Operation Awesome Angelica Jackson's Interview and New Cover Reveal #CoverReveal #book Merlin's Stronghold #ComingSoon" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sSviq9tZAk8/W2fIPCzxsGI/AAAAAAAABdg/LAbWhGU95_sdyIcceq3W1eh9JAOyAK84wCLcBGAs/s320/merlin.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Crow's Rest, the first in the series, came out last May from Crow &amp; Pitcher Press, and the second book, Merlin's Stronghold, will release on October 23. <br /><br />I've also released a photobook of that same castle that appears on the covers, but Capturing the Castle: Images of Preston Castle (2006-2016) goes behind the doors into the decaying Preston Castle interior. And as of this writing, a fantastic actor named Brenda Scott Wlazlo just added the finishing touches to the audio version of Crow's Rest. The audiobook of Merlin's Stronghold should be out before the end of the year. <br /><br />You can keep in the loop for all the news on my books by signing up for my newsletter on my website at <a href="https://angelicarjackson.com/">https://angelicarjackson.com </a> and I'm on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001046475887">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001046475887</a> and Twitter is <a href="https://twitter.com/angelicarjaxon">https://twitter.com/angelicarjaxon</a> . Get a look at my artwork at <a href="https://www.angelicarjackson.photography/">https://www.angelicarjackson.photography</a> , including my pics of <a href="https://www.angelicarjackson.photography/Preston-Castle/">Preston Castle</a>. J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-62420042903395044882018-08-13T06:00:00.000-05:002018-08-13T06:00:07.686-05:00In Search of 100 Rejections by Dec. 31Y'all remember way back in early March when I publicly declared I was striving for <a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2018/03/working-toward-goal-100-rejections-in.html" target="_blank">100 rejections in 2018?</a><br /><br />Well. That has gone...not swimmingly. As it turns out, <i>not</i>&nbsp;writing anything for three months actually decreases the number of projects you can have rejected! Who would have thought, am I right?<br /><br />On a serious note, I have counted only eight (8) rejections so far this year. Which isn't to say I haven't had more, because I'm sure a few slipped through the cracks of my depression during the last few months. All that number really proves is that I haven't been submitting and pitching like I had planned.<br /><br />Of course, one drawback is the fact that my novel progress has been, how to put this nicely...painstakingly slow. I wrote a combined 3,000 words for June and July combined. None so far in August. A handful more in May.<br /><br />You can't query an unfinished manuscript, and seeing as I was already nearing 20,000 words in a re-written but fairly polished draft by mid-March, I was filled to the brim with confidence that I would finish it off and be able to begin querying by mid-summer.<br /><br />Maybe there's something in here about "the best laid plans," or whatever, but that feels more pontificatory than anything, and I'm...not in the mood to lecture myself. Or you.<br /><br />I actually think my slow progress on the novel is due to a few factors, including the "middle slump," the fact that I'm suddenly working full-time again, and the freezing nature of fear.<br /><br />Which is what I want to explore here: fear, and how it freezes us. And this time, not the fear of failure.<br /><br />The thing is, as a writer, I'm used to "failure." I've been submitting my writing since early 2014, and had the bulk of it rejected until late 2015. Since then, I've been active as a freelance essayist, and while I've had multiple acceptances, I still regularly get rejected, both from new publications and from ones I have a relationship with already.<br /><br />I queried my first novel beginning in January 2015, and out of 30+ queries, I received two partial requests. Neither went anywhere.<br /><br />Failure, as a writer, is an intimate acquaintance of mine.<br /><br />I'm not afraid to query ALLIE MAE DOESN'T GET THE GUY because I don't want to look its failure in the face.<br /><br />I'm afraid to query this book because I believe in it. Because I have hope and faith and belief that maybe, just maybe...this will be the one to succeed.<br /><br />I had that belief in my first book (hence, why I queried it) but it turns out it was massively misplaced. The next two books I wrote and edited never reached a place, plot-wise or writing-wise, where I was confident in querying them.<br /><br />But this one? This one I believe in. I believe in the story itself; I believe in the characters; I believe in the themes and motifs and the small yet defining personality traits of my protagonist; I believe in the writing.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FNFrfUyF8Y/W3FUvbcwInI/AAAAAAAAGuo/LepilikGYrQnzqGwalLM6Zvyc-gSpELrwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FNFrfUyF8Y/W3FUvbcwInI/AAAAAAAAGuo/LepilikGYrQnzqGwalLM6Zvyc-gSpELrwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0343.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I also definitely believe in pretty aesthetics!</i></td></tr></tbody></table>And I'm terrified of being proven wrong. Terrified that I'll finish it, that my critique partners and beta readers will love it and promise that it will snag me an agent. Terrified that I'll send it out to agents and nothing will come of it.<br /><br />That I'll be disappointed. And that I'll turn that disappointment upon myself, shape it into a knife pointed directly at my heart.<br /><br /><i>You idiot. I can't believe you thought you were good enough. I can't believe you thought you would ever be good enough.</i><br /><i><br /></i>I swear, I can already hear the mocking words, reverberating in my brain, if I send this book out, heart high, and my hopes are dashed.<br /><br />So, yes. I'm 25,000 words into my novel, and I'm frozen with fear. I've spent the past few months telling myself I needed to finish the book because maybe, just maybe, this would be the one. And all that pressure has me caving.<br /><br />But.<br /><br />But what if, instead, I don't finish the book because it will get me an agent. What if I flip the narrative (again). What if I finish the book because it will help me reach my goal: 100 rejections by December 31.<br /><br />Again I find that looking at rejections as notches in a shield and not "the worst possible outcome" helps. I don't know how or why. I just know that it reframes the issue, and suddenly I'm not afraid of them.<br /><br />Each rejection is a sign that I tried. That I flung myself out there, vulnerable and unafraid, and yes, I was turned down, but you know what?<br /><br />I tried. I faced my fears. And even if they think they won, I know they're wrong. Because the way you defeat fears isn't by proving they were unfounded. It's by proving they can't hold you back.<br /><br /><i>What is something you're afraid of in your writing journey...and what steps, small or not, can you take to try to prove your fears won't hold you back?</i>Karis Rogersonhttps://plus.google.com/116184245402556340713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-21210364867135893552018-08-10T00:00:00.000-05:002018-08-10T00:00:00.544-05:00Change of Heart at Operation Awesome #WEP #IWSG<center> <a href="http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2018/08/welcome-to-wep-writeeditpublish-august.html" target="_blank"><img alt="#wep #iwsg Change of Heart" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UIOhr4BPlPI/W0_kCjahRwI/AAAAAAAANCA/wOpcCQ7zBCwQ68A-PlzjixA_LNDOB5SIQCLcBGAs/s400/a%2Bwep%2Bchange%2Bof%2Bheart%2Bfinal.jpg" title="" /><br />Write Edit Publish</a></center><br /><br />Perhaps a bit unusual for this challenge:<br /><h3>Operation Awesome proudly introduces our three new operatives!</h3><br /><br /><center> <img alt="#quote image We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves otherwise we harden. Goethe" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="431" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rc6PzTPuG4/W2d4TgpJQPI/AAAAAAAABcM/kMqNbbEF2A83w7hKfxqfIARi9dEImXZqgCLcBGAs/s400/change2.jpg" title="" width="399" /></center><br /><br /><h4 style="text-align: center;">The members of the team are the HEART of Operation Awesome.&nbsp;</h4><div style="text-align: center;">Due to time restraints, mostly thanks to successes, we have an influx of new members this month, which is a big&nbsp;</div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;">CHANGE OF</span> our <span style="color: #990000;">HEART</span>.&nbsp;</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;">So, in under 300 words each, here are quick introductions from our new team members!</div><br /><center> <img alt="#quote unless you do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow Osborn image" border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="554" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Th5qUqVDsl0/W2d4TjffuSI/AAAAAAAABcA/FQ5zVXHgMqUhOQ6BAPiJIlSeo984Ue5RQCLcBGAs/s400/change.jpg" title="" width="400" /></center><br /><br />They'll do longer, individual introduction posts later. This is just a fun way to say hello to everyone out there. No feedback is needed for this non-fiction post, but it'd be great if you'd say hi back!<br /><br /><center> <img alt="#quote we cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are image" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="494" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F1ghXPdfXKo/W2d4UR2Vj0I/AAAAAAAABcQ/tltDIeLbZ5M8gsahwfOQVO7eEifLdIBRwCLcBGAs/s400/change4.jpg" title="" width="309" /></center><br /><h3><span style="color: saddlebrown;">Nathaniel:</span></h3><br /><span style="color: saddlebrown;">Hey, everyone! My name is Nathaniel Glanzman and I'll be the new Query Friday/ Flash Fiction Friday point guy. I found out about Operation Awesome through #QueryKombat, and as soon as I was introduced to it, I was in love. My favorite thing about Operation Awesome is its ability to bridge connections between writers. It is an excellent resource to strengthen and nurture one of my favorite things in the whole world: <b>Writing</b>. I know this may sound cliche, but I've been a writer all my life (The first thing I remember writing was a poem about how much my mother loved money when I was four) and there is hardly a moment in the day when I'm not thinking about a character or a plot point to write down later. My default novel is a character-centric, internal conflict-heavy slice of life with an ensemble cast of mentally ill, neurodivergent, queer social misfits. Writing has both changed my life and saved my life on more than one occasion. I can't imagine my life without it. I'm honored to be a part of a team that cultivates that in others.</span><br /><br /><br /><center> <img alt="#quote image Choice, chance, change" border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WcQ9CZeSkeE/W2d4Ut1x4rI/AAAAAAAABcY/J2m8OehZvEUd217MySy6el9EGpUrZilEgCLcBGAs/s400/changeccc.jpg" title="" width="268" /></center><br /><br /><h3><span style="color: purple;">Amren:</span></h3><br /><span style="color: purple;">Hi y’all, I’m Amren! I’m so excited to be a part of the OA team. It’s hard out there for those of us going through the writing process, so having a group like OA to provide support through every stage is a huge help. I know I was lost before I found an online community of writers, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to share some of what I’ve learned along the way. I can’t wait to get started! I’m going to be starting a new recurring event with OA to critique manuscripts’ first pages, so hopefully I’ll be seeing your pages soon 😊</span><br /><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br /><center> <img alt="#quote image by Joss Whedon No one is ready for big change but it's what you do afterwards that defines you" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9m752DIEuAc/W2d4UfHqoLI/AAAAAAAABcU/1gi5VuCNZeYhIc3no1n03Xt084pDc4EzgCLcBGAs/s400/changeJoss.jpg" title="" width="400" /></center><br /><br /><h3><span style="color: mediumorchid;">Kate:</span></h3><br /><span style="color: mediumorchid;">Hello! <br /><br />I’m Kate and I’m thrilled to be joining the Operation Awesome team. I have been a long-time reader of the blog, and it has been an incredibly useful resource as I’ve attempted to navigate this tricky world of writing and publishing. I am looking forward to giving back to the community in my own small way as Operation Awesome’s new OAbby. So if you have any burning questions about writing or publishing, send them my way! <br /><br />Writing and publishing is a long game, and one that’s not for the faint of heart. You have to have perseverance, the hide of a rhino and not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the crippling self-doubt that comes at some point in every writing project. Writing is a solitary act, so it’s important to have a community to support you when you need it. And a community that understands the unique challenges of being a writer is important. <br /><br />I’m proud to be a part of that community and look forward to meeting and supporting you as part of the new OA team.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><center> <img alt="#quote what is the point of all of this if you aren't going to let it change you image" border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCx7AEQH6Qg/W2d4ToHketI/AAAAAAAABcE/hCuXisofYjEC30O-n161qBXemepc0-SfgCLcBGAs/s400/change1.jpg" title="" width="400" /></center><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><h2>We hope you'll come back to visit Operation Awesome, where we focus on helping those in the publishing journey.&nbsp;</h2></div><br />Pass or Pages is our quarterly query critique contest. We also have synopsis critiques, posts about feelings on writing, Dear OAbby, the Debut Author Spotlight, and other fun features.<br /><br /><center> <img alt="#quote A mighty change of heart includes a mighty change of thinking image" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxg0v9KHO5c/W2d4UDNPtVI/AAAAAAAABcI/tFnpw09I0vkjyIoh6Fwz-VgeTQOnvi8RgCLcBGAs/s400/change3.jpg" title="" width="400" /></center><br />J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-47212199640415182102018-08-09T05:00:00.000-05:002018-08-09T05:00:02.993-05:00Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis: Part OneWith PitchWars, Author Mentor Match, and other contests right around the corner, I'm re-running my posts about how to write synopses. Feel free to comment with any questions, and make sure to check the archives for over two dozen synopsis critiques!<br /><br /><br />Here's an increasingly common scenario. An agent has had your partial or full manuscript for several weeks, and you finally get a long-awaited email from her. Your heart pounding, you open the email. "Can you please send me a synopsis?" she asks.<br /><br />Or you just found out about a contest you know you want to enter. The contest judges will be deciding which entries move on to the agent round based on a query letter, the first page/chapter of the manuscript... and a synopsis. The entry deadline is tomorrow. Your query letter and the manuscript itself are word-perfect, edited, beta-read, and revised. But can you write a great synopsis in 24 hours?<br /><br />In this post, we'll discuss what a synopsis is (and isn't), how synopses are used by agents and authors, and the basic requirements for writing a good one.<br /><br />Next week, we'll go through the mechanics of synopsis writing, and I'll post an example of a synopsis that works.<br /><br />After that, I'll be critiquing your synopses - we'll add a form to next week's post so you can submit!<br /><br /><b><u>What is a synopsis?</u>&nbsp;</b>A synopsis is a summary of your manuscript's plot. It details the entire main plot arc (including the ending) and also mentions the most important subplots and characters. It doesn't include many character or setting details, and also doesn't include dialogue, metaphors, or detailed descriptions. Think of it as the blueprint for a house. You don't need to show the tablecloths and chandeliers, but you'd better make sure the dimensions of all the rooms are accurately represented.<br /><br /><b><u>Why does everyone hate writing synopses so much?</u></b>&nbsp;Because it's hard! You've spent months (maybe years) writing your book, weighing every word, stressing over character arcs, settings, and plot points. Now you have to condense tens of thousands of words into a couple of pages? It's definitely daunting, but it's doable.<br /><b><br /></b><b><u>How is it different from a query letter?</u>&nbsp;</b>I like to think of a query letter as 'teasing your story' and the synopsis as 'telling your story.' It may not sound like a huge difference, but think about it: With the query, you want to say just enough to entice an agent, to excite her so much about your story that she just has to request pages. You don't want to give away the ending in a query - you want to end on an uncertain note, a cliffhanger, with the action or decision your main character will have to choose. You want to hook the agent, but you don't want to reel her in. On the other hand, with the synopsis, you're reeling her in by telling the entire story.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Why do agents and contest judges want synopses?</u>&nbsp;An agent might be reading your full manuscript, but also have 100 other fulls to read. If she starts reading and knows right away she likes your voice, your writing, your characters, and the concept, she may request a synopsis so she can get a 'cheat sheet' for the plot without having to read the entire manuscript. It's a way for her to confirm the plot isn't going to go off the rails in the middle or end of the manuscript, and that you can sustain momentum throughout the book. Same with contest judges - they often have hundreds of entries to pore over. A synopsis helps cut way down on reading time.<br /><b><br /></b><b><u>How long does it have to be?</u></b>&nbsp;The most common requests seem to be 'no more than two pages' and 'no more than five pages.' I've always started by writing a five-page synopsis, and then cut it down to two pages. The opposite works just as well. Once you've got both, you're ready to go, and can comply with a request for either a short or long synopsis.<br /><b><br /></b><b><u>What formatting should I use?</u></b>&nbsp;Use the same font/size as your manuscript (12-point Times New Roman, etc.). For the five-page synopsis, double-space and indent paragraphs. For the two-page synopsis, you can single space and add a space between paragraphs instead of indenting.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">What parts of my manuscript do I need to cover?</u>&nbsp;All of it! Well, okay, that's not exactly true. You need to set the scene, introduce your main character, and run through the entire main plot. All of the significant events (and characters) from the main plot need to be included. Subplots and secondary characters can be included if they are directly relevant to the main plot. And you MUST give away the ending.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">How many characters can I name?</u>&nbsp;Rule of thumb is no more than 5. More than that, and it starts getting difficult for the reader to keep track. For all other characters, you can refer to them using their relationship to the main character (for example, John's brother, Mary's teacher, etc.).<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Do I need comps, word count, genre, a bio, etc.?</u>&nbsp;Nope. Save those for the query.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">Does the writing have to be stellar?</u>&nbsp;Why not? This is another opportunity to show the agent or contest judge that you've got the chops. Write your synopsis like you're answering the question, "What happens in your story?" You want that answer to be colorful, intriguing, and complete, and for it to showcase your writing abilities.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">My book has a great twist at the end. I can't possibly give it away?</u>&nbsp;Too bad. If an agent has requested a synopsis, then he wants to know how the plot of your book progresses, and that necessarily includes the ending.<br /><b><br /></b><u style="font-weight: bold;">When should I write my synopsis?</u>&nbsp;I usually write my synopsis when I'm about halfway through the first draft of my manuscript (note: I do create broad outlines before I start writing, so if you're a pantser, you might prefer to wait until the first draft is done). Writing a synopsis while I'm writing the book lets me know whether the plot is working. Is there a clear through-line for the main plot? What's missing to connect Points A, B, and C? Does a character appear in the first chapter of the book and then isn't heard from again until the 50% mark? A synopsis helps you see the forest for the trees - you can make sure your main plot is working while you're writing the draft. Besides, after you're done editing the manuscript and sweating over the query letter, it's nice to know you've already got a draft synopsis waiting in the wings!<br /><b><br /></b>Got questions about the 'Tackling the Dreaded Synopsis' series? Feel free to ask, or start a discussion, in the comments. And tune in next week for more on the mechanics of synopsis writing and a sample synopsis of a novel 99% of you will be familiar with!<br /><b><br /></b>Jaime Olinhttps://plus.google.com/106364460821210326323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-58443584583379265742018-08-08T00:00:00.000-05:002018-08-08T03:02:59.983-05:00Elisabeth Cohen's Operation Awesome Debut Author Spotlight and Emerging First Book<center> <img alt="Debut Author Spotlight from @JLenniDorner on @OpAwesome6" height="230" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35606653480_d4ff0d4a4b_o.jpg" width="255" /> </center><center><br /></center><center><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B075PVYXWR&amp;asins=B075PVYXWR&amp;linkId=0112a2bb325d464f48ca2864dce0f63e&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/2OJtMrn">The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen</a></center><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">Behind the scenes, today's debut author and I got into a discussion about Pennsylvania's crazy weather. We're about an hour apart from each other and both getting drenched. 🚤 My forecast for the week from</span> <a href="https://weather.com/">weather.com</a>:<br /><img alt="rainy weather in PA screenshot from weather dot com" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="352" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X_PGYQm5j0k/W2eGUwJZMBI/AAAAAAAABcw/jRxeUVJPzmY4SUvAWpx5om6cNtSB93UWgCLcBGAs/s1600/weather.png" /> <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">1- Welcome my fellow Pennsylvanian! How's the summer treating you in "The City of Brotherly Love" or "The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection"?</span><br /><br />I was having a marvelous summer until it started to rain every day! The weather forecast coordinates nicely with my book cover:<br /><center><img alt="stormy weather image" border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4VLfKAHt4c/W2eIvHrVV5I/AAAAAAAABc8/SUEx0UJKvJsYXv5otq8Gb075dJzVg_JvACLcBGAs/s320/-RmvAddC.jpeg" width="363" /> <img alt="The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6PJ1AVaj9yo/W2eIvBDPamI/AAAAAAAABdA/vzZzGWcm0ywow2FI1b_rUiacuKiT-ol9wCLcBGAs/s320/41%252ByRG9QvvL.jpg" width="212" /></center><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">2- What ignited your passion for writing?</span><br /><br />I’ve always kept journals, and I’ve always been interested in recording my own experience (and other people’s too--I worked as an archivist and loved getting to think about and imagine other people’s lives). I like talking even more than writing, but it’s the same desire: the urge to shape experience into narration.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">3- Would you share a picture with us of your book with a Philadelphia landmark?</span><br /><br />I wish I had a photo of my book with the famous “Bolt of Lightning” sculpture (it’s in honor of Benjamin Franklin’s electricity experiment with the key). It’s too rainy and I’m too far away to go snap one right now. Here’s the sculpture:<br /><a href="https://associationforpublicart.org/artwork/bolt-of-lightning-a-memorial-to-benjamin-franklin/">Bolt of Lightning. . . A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin</a><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">4- What are some of your short and long term writing goals?</span><br /><br />My goal is always to write more and better than I’m writing now.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">5- Do you take a multivitamin? </span><br /><br />Yes. When I remember, which isn’t every day. I take it while cleaning up after dinner because I’m too much of a weakling to take a vitamin in the morning (coffee is all I can get down). Unlike my main character, Shelley, who takes a men’s multivitamin because she doesn’t want to miss out on any of the important stuff the men are getting from their vitamins, I take Trader Joe’s “Women’s Formula” with the mauve label. I also take iron.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B004KO6GNC&amp;asins=B004KO6GNC&amp;linkId=9e7924f0273f9c4c4a615ce3abd196df&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00SD5GOEK&amp;asins=B00SD5GOEK&amp;linkId=88793d0b8b5e9234a91564e89245380f&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B079MG1YJQ&amp;asins=B079MG1YJQ&amp;linkId=09df4155192f9702983b2a421907f1e1&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00119ZOW8&amp;asins=B00119ZOW8&amp;linkId=257a8f108ed5ceaf72a22df91a88e883&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">6- What is your favorite book (by someone else), and what do you love most about that book?</span><br /><br />I love that parenthetical, but trust me when I say that it isn’t even close. I keep saying my favorite book is Old Filth, by Jane Gardam, and I think that’s still true, but for a long time it was Dance to the Music of Time, by Anthony Powell, and if you ever want a great British 12-part novel, I recommend it. It’s very long and traces the life of a person and that person’s friends from their school days into their old age. By the time you get to the third volume or so, it becomes genuinely thrilling when the old characters from youth crop up, and feels very much like what it’s like to run across someone from your own past. It’s hard to explain but it’s an experience.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">7- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?</span><br /><br />It’s my 10 year old. He read my book and gave it a somewhat stinging review (he had a lot of ideas involving androids and he was disappointed I didn’t work them into the storyline), but he falls asleep at night listening to the audiobook.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">8- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers? </span><br /><br />I hope the book will be fresh and surprising and funny. I love when a book goes off in a sharp, surprising, funny direction and isn’t afraid of breaking the rules. I hope there are other readers who find that kind of book pleasurable and like The Glitch.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">9- What most helped you to improve your writing craft?</span><br /><br />Having a writing related job in which you write vast quantities of words helps: you realize that even writing simple, straightforward things like letters and speeches and grant applications can be hard and take too long and require too many drafts, and you learn that much of writing is just pushing through, revisiting, cleaning up, rethinking, doing it again.<br />I also feel like I’ve learned something about writing from doing crossword puzzles. Maybe that’s just how I justify doing them.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">10- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters? (Example: Jorek scratching his neck in Carve the Mark, or Harry Potter's lightning bolt scar.)</span><br /><br />Funny you mention lightning bolts. I think the most memorable trait of Shelley is that she was struck by lightning as a teenager. And the grueling recovery from that experience made her into someone who is compelled to maximize her time and sees everything in her life in terms of value and productivity.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">11- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? <a href="https://diversebooks.org/">https://diversebooks.org</a> #WeNeedDiverseBooks </span><br /><br />So, my main character is not diverse: she’s white, rich, and the CEO of a tech company. She is atypical, in the sense that there aren’t many women CEOs, but she’s privileged in all the ways you’d expect (and not particularly aware of her privilege, either).<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">Alternative question 11: What's your favorite book with a diverse main character?</span><br /><br />My favorite book with a diverse main character is Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s such an enjoyable book, pleasurable and perceptive and absorbing.<br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00A9ET4MC&amp;asins=B00A9ET4MC&amp;linkId=26ceeb2f660e9e572e8f9605de9166bc&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">12- Does your book hold a mirror up to society, and in what way?</span><br /><br />It’s in part about the contradictory expectations we impose on women in power: that they must be warm, involved mothers, while also clocking long hours at the office; that they should be attractive yet not vain; assertive but not shrill or pushy; fit but “feminine” looking; able to project gravitas but not old. It sets up a very complicated set of expectations for women in power. I think it’s something to think about, especially as we see an increasing number of women running for elected office. I’d like to see us examine our assumptions about what we expect of women in power, how we talk about and write about them, the question we ask them, the criticisms we raise.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">13- As a reader, what most motivates you to buy a new book to read?</span><br /><br />I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The most obvious one is social pressure because the author is someone I know. Or going to a book event because I’m curious about the author and feeling a desire to support the bookstore or the author. Or feeling kind of down and wanting to treat myself to a book that will cheer me up. I also buy a lot of books as gifts. (I have to throw in here that The Glitch would make a very appealing gift!)<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">14- What's the best book marketing strategy you've come across?</span><br /><br />Infiltrate the White House, get the scoop, and then tell all? That wasn’t possible for this book, though.<br />I think doing more of a pre-pub push to get preorders would be a good idea. I didn’t do that, but I think it makes sense.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">15- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?</span><br /><br />How do you feel about the trend of covers that are abstract designs, rather than images or illustrations? Does it make it harder for you to jump into the book and get started? (I think it does for me). Or do you like the mystery/non-specificity of an abstract design rather than a defining image?<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">16- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?</span><br /><br />Shelley Stone, wife, mother, and CEO of the tech company Conch, is committed to living her most efficient life. She takes her "me time" at 3:30 a.m. on the treadmill, power naps while waiting in line, schedules sex with her husband for when they're already changing their clothes, and takes a men's multivitamin because she refuses to participate in her own oppression. But when she meets a young woman also named Shelley Stone who also has the exact same scar on her shoulder, Shelley has to wonder: Is she finally buckling under all the pressure?<br /><br /><h3>Bio:</h3><br />Elisabeth Cohen's work has appeared in The Mississippi Review, The Cincinnati Review, Conjunctions, McSweeney's, and The Millions. She graduated from Princeton University and has an MA from the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins and an MLS from the University of Maryland. She works as a medical editor and lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and two sons.<br />Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/elisabeth_cohen">@elisabeth_cohen</a> <br />Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/cohen_elisabeth/">@cohen_elisabeth</a> <br />Website: <a href="https://www.elisabethcohen.com/">elisabethcohen.com</a><br /><br /><center><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;language=en_US&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B075PVYXWR&amp;asins=B075PVYXWR&amp;linkId=0112a2bb325d464f48ca2864dce0f63e&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/2OJtMrn">The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen</a></center>J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-60515475802207057972018-08-02T05:00:00.000-05:002018-08-02T05:00:16.730-05:00Synopsis Critique #26: Adult Fantasy<span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, it's time for this week's synopsis critique! The author of PERSEPHONE'S WALTZ, an Adult Fantasy novel, submitted this synopsis. My in-line comments are [</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">blue and in brackets</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">], and I'll include a summary at the end. Feel free to comment below! </span><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span>f you'd like a primer on how to write a synopsis, see my posts&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/01/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-one.html" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/02/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-two-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/forms/d6OzMyIQal7p9JPr1" target="_blank">here</a>, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com. (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></b></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Holy Maiden YSABEL has only four months and three weeks to live. It’s a race to see which kills her first&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span></b>: her healing ability which takes a day off her life every time she uses it or the Council of Patriarchs who plan to sacrifice her in a ritual to obtain immortality when she turns twenty-five. Ysabel has made her peace with her fate and uses the political influence it brings her as leverage to obtain political rights for women and protect the halfling refugees camping outside her city. Although by “made peace” she means she indulges in recreational drugs and dominatrix games to forget. She also suffers from face-blindness and anxiety attacks.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then Dark Lord KAINE arrives half-dead at the doorstep of her clinic&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span></b>, fleeing an assassination attempt by Patriarch JIOH. Ysabel sneaks him out of the city so he can stop his army from attacking her city.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span></b>Before leaving, Kaine tells her he owes her a great debt which he vows to repay.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The next she hears of him, he’s got an army outside the Holy City Arahasnor and is demanding the patriarchs turn her over to him. The council sells her out like cheese about to expire.<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[5]&nbsp;</span></b>Still traumatized by the last clichéd dark lord who tried to carry her off, Ysabel hides a knife in her hair and plans to save herself.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">After narrowly avoided being stabbed, Kaine explains he did it to save her life after he discovered that the council and their leader JIOH plan to kill her and have bound her with a magical oath not to escape. It definitely wasn’t a dreadful attempt at kidnapping equal love!&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span></b>Although, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have any feelings for her…enough to entrust her with his greatest secret, that he’s a trans man who uses Bodymodifiers.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ysabel has become accustomed to giving up and sacrificing herself&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span></b>, but Kaine persuades her to let him try to free her from her geas.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span></b>The plan is to win World Game, a proxy war where nations compete for territory and money using teams of six wizard-warriors. The world leaders are magically bound to abide by the outcomes. Kaine’s gift, Plunder, allows him to steal other’s abilities and makes him a favorite to win. Ysabel has the first team made of women and led by&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span></b>her best friend, Humanity’s Strongest Wizard-Warrior ALZIRA, who can control meteors. However, she’s&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span></b>been too scared to compete ever since the patriarchs threatened to murder all her friends if she tried, and it takes reassurance from them to find the courage she’s been suppressing.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ysabel and Kaine’s teams meet in the finals and fight to a draw.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[13]</span></b>When Kaine is injured, Ysabel admits her love for him. Now she’s been freed of her oath&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[14]</span></b>and become the new head of the council by defeating all the patriarchs&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[15]</span></b>, all seems well. In a vicious twist, Jioh reveals himself to be a former dark lord with necromantic powers who takes over the city.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[16]</span></b>Imprisoning Ysabel’s friends, he forces her to cruelly reject Kaine.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ysabel’s teammates break out of jail and come to save her. Kaine breaks into the city to save her too despite her earlier attempt to chase him off. He fights Jioh despite his magic not working and is fatally injured while killing the lich&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[17]</span></b>. He refuses to let Ysabel heal him because she is already close to the end of her lifespan, despite her pleas. When she tries to heal him, he uses his ability to steal her cursed gift, while she tries to stop him because she doesn’t want him to end up with her curse.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The result of their clash of wills is that Ysabel’s life is restored but Kaine loses his ability to steal magic. Ysabel continues to heal people&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #4f81bd;">[18]</span></b>, but from Kaine, she’s gained the power to take a day of the patient’s life instead of her own. She marries Kaine and moves back to his kingdom. In the very last scene, she overhears two kitchen maids telling the story of how the dark lord abducted the holy maiden. They’re both under the illusion that Kaine is the dominant one in the relationship, although actually he’s submissive by nature, as is revealed when Ysabel heads back to her room. But she no longer cares what others think of her and is content with her new life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Comments</span></u><u><o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">I think this is better phrased as ‘which will kill her first’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">This last sentence seems tacked on, and unnecessary to this synopsis, since neither her face blindness nor anxiety attacks recur later. I’d delete it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">This is the first mention of ‘her clinic.’ I assume it’s where she practices her healing, but I’d make that clear.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">I’m very confused by this sentence. Is the ‘he’ you refer to Kaine? Why was his army about to attack the city? Did he have a change of heart about attacking, or is not attacking the favor he plans to use to repay Ysabel?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">This phrase doesn’t fit the tone of the rest of the synopsis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">I don’t understand this phrase (kidnapping equal love). Did you leave out a word or punctuation?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">Why does Kaine entrust her with this secret? Is it a secret because he’d be killed or deposed if it got out? The fact that he’s a trans man doesn’t seem relevant to the rest of the synopsis, so I’d either cut it or refer to it again later, assuming it’s important to the plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">But earlier, she had a knife in her hair so she could defend herself…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">What are ‘geas’?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">This would be better phrased as, ‘which is led by her best friend…’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">Is the ‘she’ Ysabel or Alzira?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">This is cool, and I like the idea of a wizard game that leaders are magically bound by. It’s different. But I’m not quite sure how it ties into the stakes of the book (which I think are Ysabel being freed from the council? I’m not totally sure). Take some time and see if you can distill the stakes into a single sentence. Once you have, see if you can better explain how the World Game relates to those stakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[13]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">Isn’t it Kaine’s goal to get Ysabel freed? Why would they have entered separate teams? Wouldn’t they have collaborated on forming a single super-team?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[14]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">How?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[15]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">When did she do this? How?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[16]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">But he was already a bad guy, right? Why is this a twist?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[17]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">What is this?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[18]</span></b><span style="background-color: white;">Is she still head of the Council? I thought the plot was going to result in a more political role for Ysabel, but maybe not?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u>Summary<o:p></o:p></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">To make this stronger, really focus on identifying the stakes in the book. Why must Ysabel take action? If she doesn’t act, then what? Once you’ve done this, make sure every step of the main plot described in the synopsis relates to those stakes and works directly for or against Ysabel’s journey. Right now, the main plot is a little muddled because I can’t quite figure out how the World Game fits in with Ysabel’s stated goal (I think) to become free.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Overall, it’s an interesting story and you just need to work on clarifying some points in the synopsis. Best of luck with this!<o:p></o:p></div></div>Jaime Olinhttps://plus.google.com/106364460821210326323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-17883452260582748212018-08-01T00:00:00.000-05:002018-08-01T00:00:12.265-05:00Mark Morrison's Operation Awesome Debut Author Spotlight and Emerging First Book<center><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35606653480_d4ff0d4a4b_o.jpg" width="255" height="230" alt="Debut Author Spotlight from @JLenniDorner on @OpAwesome6"></center><center><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B079ZBBSPM&asins=B079ZBBSPM&linkId=7e78adf295f0529de037b51b45ab4271&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe><BR> <a href="https://amzn.to/2v2wksf">TwoSpells by Mark Morrison</a></center> <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">1- What's the best thing about bike riding? </span><BR><BR>The freedom, the music from my Ipod, the wind in my face, the strain in my thigh muscles, the sun beating on my sweating skin and the joy in reaching my distance goal for the day. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">2- What five words represent your most notable characteristic or values? #In5Words</span><BR><BR>Empathy, tenacity, honesty, integrity, curiosity. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">3- What ignited your passion for writing?</span><BR><BR>My imagination of course. I wanted everyone to read my stories, my creations, my thoughts and ideas. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">4- Would you share a picture with us of your book in a library?</span><BR><BR>I'd have to use a photo from my own library and you'd make fun of me if you knew some of the child-like books I read. I'm still a kid at heart. (IE: Diary of a Wimpy Kid) <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">5- What are some of your short and long term writing goals?</span><BR><BR>My short term is to have my next novel, in editing now, available in three months and the second of the TwoSpells series available by February of 2019. My long term goal is to write at least the stories I've already either written completely or in part published before I run out of time on this world. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">6- How well do you get along with your seven siblings, and do you have any tips for others in big families?</span><BR><BR>I have a very close relationship with three of the four sisters, one has passed long before she should have, and two of my three brothers. One has chosen a life of seclusion, nobody knows why. The best tip I can think of is; love each other and be happy. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">7- What is your favorite book (by someone else), and what do you love most about that book?</span><BR><BR>By far the most influential book that changed me in any profound way was the Holy Bible. I'm not religious by any standards but it opened my mind at a very young age as to how so many folks can believe so strongly in something they cannot see, touch, or hear. I was absolutely amazed at its impact on families and culture and based on faith alone. A truly outstanding book!<BR><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1885217951&asins=1885217951&linkId=124142b7c33fdde756c77a5d8d220807&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">8- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?</span><BR><BR>My son Jason. He's my mentor, my tutor, my editor, my sounding board, and an inspiration in so many other ways. Someday I'll write his remarkable story if he doesn't beat me to it first. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">9- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers? </span><BR><BR>Joy! I do love the scene near the opening of the book where Jon was sleeping, open mouthed, and Sarah watched the disgusting orange-brown glob run down from Jon's mouth and join his collection of tee shirt stains. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">10- What most helped you to improve your writing craft?</span><BR><BR>More writing. TwoSpells was really the first thing I've ever written in my life. Corky was the second and the next in the TwoSpells series will be my third. I better be getting better after all the help I've gotten from wonderful reviewers like yourself. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">11- How important do you think social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram, are to today's authors? </span><BR><BR>I'm sure a lot, but I'm computer illiterate for the most part. My VCR still has the clock flashing off and on. Maybe I should upgrade my technology? <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">12- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?</span><BR><BR>My first instinct is to say the numbered tattoos on the Golem. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">13- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? <a href="https://diversebooks.org">https://diversebooks.org</a> #WeNeedDiverseBooks</span><BR><BR>Sarah and Jon are of mixed species. They'll have to deal with their own kind, the Irregulars, in the future. After the great war their similarities may become a detriment to the twins belief in themselves as well as others. <BR><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0553210793&asins=0553210793&linkId=78629ca5616790a9ba258c562e5105d6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe><BR><BR>My favorite character of diversity was Jim from Huckleberry Finn. The relationship between him and Huck was touching. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">14- Which character has your favorite Personality Contradiction?</span><BR><BR>Liam. He's spontaneous but cautious as well. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">15- Does your book hold a mirror up to society, and in what way?</span><BR><BR>Yes! It still shows that certain cultures are still stigmatized and pushed away from standardized beliefs and silly guidelines considered the norm. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">16- Can you think of any small change in the world you could make to benefit hundreds of other authors or readers potentially?</span><BR><BR>If every person in the world suddenly went blind for just a short time maybe we'd all see each other in a different light. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">17- As a reader, what most motivates you to buy a new book to read?</span><BR><BR>The cover first, I'm a visual person, then the blurb cause I'm a sucker. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">18- How will you measure your publishing performance?</span><BR><BR>By how many who've read my story and liked it. I have enough of everything else in my life I didn't start writing for the money, fame or accolades. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">19- What was the deciding factor in your publication route? </span><BR><BR>Self-publishing because my father used to say you could only control one person, yourself. I like the control of my own destiny. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">20- What's the best book marketing strategy you've come across?</span><BR><BR>I haven't found that yet. I'll let you know when I do though. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">21- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?</span><BR><BR>Will Sarah's family ever be reunited? <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">22- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?</span><BR><BR><h2>TwoSpells</h2><BR><BR>TwoSpells is a magical tale about teenage twins, Sarah and Jon, who find out that they're heirs to an ancient, magical realm containing an enchanted library that can transport a reader to anywhere or anytime the author has written into a story. They soon realize that moving through the uncharted inner-sanctums of multidimensional worlds isn't the safest nor wisest of choices. <BR><BR>Both are emboldened with a wondrous mystical gift that no being has ever possessed. But fate intervenes pulling them into an evolving inter-dimensional war between their kind, Irregulars, and treacherous evil forces flowing from parallel universes looking to claim the library's unique magical enchantment as their own portal to besieging and conquering all realms outside their own. <BR><BR>The two must rescue their world from a phantom hybrid alien race controlled by a demented dark-wizard, Jeremy Sermack. They'll either assimilate or be exterminated. <BR><BR>Will they embrace their true identities as Irregulars and become the valiant saviours the prophets envisioned, or will they retreat to the perceived safety of their distant homeland populated with the Regulars? <BR><BR><blockquote> <h2>Chapter 12 Excerpt</h2> <BR><BR>THE FRONT DOOR LAY FLATTENED, hinges bent and twisted and the sliding bolt-lock contorted. The door jam was broken and splintered. <BR><BR>“What is this?” Grandpa roared, waving his walking stick at the mountainous intruders. “Which one of ya’ is gonna pay for all this?” <BR><BR>The dust settled and the two ominous figures stood just outside the doorway, the bright moon blazing behind them. Tattooed across their pale blue foreheads were the numbers thirty-seven and thirty-eight. Each was stuffed into a suit two sizes too small and busting at the seams, barely able to contain their hulking, muscular bodies. Black, wraparound sunglasses hid their eyes from view and Sarah could tell that something strange lay behind them. One muttered into a small microphone curled toward his lips and the other stared straight ahead. <BR><BR>Grandpa rolled up behind them. “Collectors!” <BR><BR>“Collectors?” Sarah whispered to Jon. He shrugged. <BR><BR>“You know why here,” Thirty-seven grunted, flipping one side of his jacket open and exposing a peculiar gold badge attached to his belt. It was a cluster of mechanical gears embedded with astrological symbols and a mechanical winged dragon clinging to a peculiar orbs. <BR><BR>“We do not!” Grandma shouted, leaning on her walker. <BR><BR>“Overdue book,” the other one boomed, holding out a six fingered hand. <BR><BR>“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about ya’ thug,” Grandma said, rolling her walker closer. “Who’s gonna fix me door?” <BR><BR>The Collectors muttered something in another language to one another. <BR><BR>“We haven’t even been ta’ the bloody library in years,” Grandpa argued. “Ya’ have that written in your records?” <BR><BR>Thirty-seven moved closer, his hand out again. “Special text overdue.” <BR><BR>Sarah and Jon eased backward a little. The tone of its voice sounded threatening. </blockquote><BR><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCm4qj7j9HI/W1_mJm1feNI/AAAAAAAABbw/vQee7C69sPgaFzheH37CbC7tpM1g81cRQCLcBGAs/s1600/Mark%2B%2526%2BSarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCm4qj7j9HI/W1_mJm1feNI/AAAAAAAABbw/vQee7C69sPgaFzheH37CbC7tpM1g81cRQCLcBGAs/s400/Mark%2B%2526%2BSarah.jpg" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="720" data-original-height="540" alt="Mark Morrison's Awesome Debut Author Spotlight and Emerging First Book"/></a></div> Mark was born number seven of eight children in a small town in Ohio. His family moved to Florida where he grew up, met an incredible women, got married and raised four fantastic children, three boys and a girl.<BR><BR> Many years later an empty nest left him to his true calling, storytelling. His first remarkable story is about a heroin whose courage and unrestrained personality, like his daughters, breathes passion and fervor into this adrenaline packed fantastical story. <BR><BR><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B079ZBBSPM&asins=B079ZBBSPM&linkId=7e78adf295f0529de037b51b45ab4271&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe><BR> <a href="https://amzn.to/2v2wksf">TwoSpells by Mark Morrison</a>J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-44838193370161825372018-07-31T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-31T06:00:04.687-05:00So long, and thanks for all the wordsI started out on Operation Awesome about three years ago. I thought I would have a platform for sharing the many thoughts about writing that had been piling up in my head. I had no idea what else I would be getting.<br /><br />I made some amazing friends, both on the team and through the blog readership. I learned how to critique query letters, and had the opportunity to help so many people with theirs through my Tuesday Museday feature. As one of the co-creators of Pass Or Pages, I got to help even more people get amazing feedback, and from literary agents, too! Pass Or Pages is unique in that way, and I'm proud of the role I played in creating it.<br /><br />The amazing thing about Operation Awesome is that it persists through member turnover. Even though the team changes, Operation Awesome is always the same: a place for writers to find craft tips and encouragement no matter what stage of the publication journey they are on. I know it'll be in good hands when I leave. Will they be yours? Fill out the new member application <a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2018/07/volunteers-wanted.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Operation Awesome has given me so much, and I wish I could give it more of me. But sadly, there are only 24 hours in a day, and I cannot do all the things I'd like to. Something had to give, and this time it was Operation Awesome. It was a hard decision, but it was the right one.<br /><br />I hope the next time I'm on here it's for one of J's Debut Author Spotlights! Until then, I wish everyone reading this the best of luck with the next step in their writing journey.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-14747335311391649812018-07-30T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-30T06:00:08.738-05:00A Depressed Writer: Taking Small StepsWhen I first decided to write about being a depressed writer on this platform, all the way back in <a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-depressed-writer-introduction.html" target="_blank">March</a>, I didn't expect that it be more than four months before I wrote another installation in the series.<br /><br />Yet here we are, the end of July, and I'm just now checking back in. That delay, in part, is of course due to the "<a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2018/07/resurfacing-from-creativity-coma.html" target="_blank">creativity coma</a>" that I talked about two weeks ago.<br /><br />And now that I'm finally feeling better, creatively, in the sense that I want to write again, that I have ideas for writing again, I'm slamming into another wall: my depression.<br /><br />The symptoms of my mental illness are something that I encounter, in some mutation, on pretty much a daily basis. Whether it's lethargy pushing me to hit the snooze for three hours; anxiety keeping me awake even though my eyes are so tired they burn; or a general sense of malaise, like the end of the world is nigh and my doom is imminent; on any given day, I am fighting off my depression and anxiety.<br /><br />It's constant. And it's exhausting.<br /><br />I feel like being, or at least pretending to be, "well" takes up so much of my energy. And the time! Between personal hygiene, and rest, and eating, and being social, and reading, and relaxing, and also spending 45 hours a week at work (plus commute!), what time is left to be creative?<br /><br />And yet creativity, writing, is such an integral part of my mental wellbeing. It's how I express myself, yes; it's how I communicate with people, yes; it's how I hope to change the world, of course.<br /><br />But in so many ways, writing is how I learn. About myself, and about others.<br /><br />So often, when I sit down to write an article or a blog post, it's because I'm trying to explore an idea, an issue, a scenario.<br /><br />It's the same with novels. They start as an image, or a certain feeling I want to explore.<br /><br />An image: A girl standing in the midst of a crowd of people singing her praises, making eye contact with the one person who's always had the ability to make her doubt herself.<br /><br />A feeling: A girl in her mid-20s, trying to achieve her dreams and have it all, wondering why her life doesn't look like the TV shows, wondering where her "Friends" are.<br /><br />I write because it's how I process, and I write because it's how I survive.<br /><br />Depression clouds that. It makes me forget that I even want to write, much less be able to do so well.<br /><br />And so being a depressed writer is a combination of taking breaks and allowing yourself to rest, and then, eventually, just forcing yourself to do it. Because in the end, you know it's what's best. It's what you need to do. To survive. To come out, in any way, ahead.<br /><br />And sometimes, "just doing it" means taking it slow. It means sitting down to write, scrounging out 500 or 1,000 words, and celebrating that fact with a slice of cake or, if you're me, an episode of <i>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</i>.<br /><br />Taking it slow means relieving the pressure, the wildly fake pressure, that there is a timeline by which you need to "make it." And it means rethinking what "making it" looks like at all. It means diving into the fact that I'm 25, three years out of college, have completed four novels and don't have an agent yet. And here I thought I'd be signing my book deal before graduation...<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><i>The only way to survive as a depressed writer, I've found, is to acknowledge reality, including my limitations, and eventually embrace overcoming them.&nbsp;</i></b></blockquote><br />And sometimes, it means thinking ahead: I began writing this post on Thursday morning, knowing I wanted to publish it on Monday morning. I wrote it in chunks over the weekend. And here it is, ready for you, as scheduled. Because I knew if I waited until the last minute, <i>something</i>&nbsp;would come up — something always does.<br /><br />You get better with time, at being a depressed writer. The more you get to know yourself and your depression, the more you can deal with it. But if you're overwhelmed — <i>when</i>&nbsp;you're overwhelmed — it's important to go back to the basics: small steps. One thing at a time.<br /><br />You'll get through it. I believe in you. I believe in me. We've got this.Karis Rogersonhttps://plus.google.com/116184245402556340713noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-92096987679852578282018-07-27T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-27T06:00:00.977-05:00July Pass Or Pages Entry #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for the Pass Or Pages feedback reveals! We're so thankful to our agent panel for taking the time to critique these entries. Shout out to the brave authors whose work will be on the blog this week. You are awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entry #5:</span>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">ART GIRL</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Query:</b></div><br />Seventeen-year-old Korean-American artist Lillie Kang has one more painting to do for the high school’s art contest. The winner will receive a cash prize and an exhibit of their work in an art gallery—which is one of Lillie’s big dreams<b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span></b>. With her label of 'Art Girl,' all her classmates expect her to win. After finding out her dad is unemployed<b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b>&nbsp;stepdad and mom<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span></b> is pregnant, she's determined to win the cash prize.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]</span></b><br /><br />There’s one problem: all the pressure has made her so anxious she’s lost inspiration to paint anything. But when Lillie meets Zevi, a boy who saved his cousin in a fire and has vivid scars to prove it, she may have found her subject. Despite her social anxiety, Zevi attempts to coax her out from hiding behind her canvas.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]</span></b>&nbsp;In a desperate attempt to finish the painting, she tries to paint him, but fails to express the image in her mind.<br /><br />The pressure increases when she finds out the gallery has a scholarship opportunity for one of the participants to her dream university—a rare opportunity and her ultimate wish.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD4]</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]</span></b>&nbsp;The only way she can achieve her goals is to fall in love with art all over again and paint Zevi. With the deadline approaching fast, Lillie must finish the painting, or she loses all chance for her future.<b><span style="color: red;">[WA4]</span></b><br /><br />ART GIRL is a young adult contemporary novel at 53,000 words.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5]</span></b>&nbsp;It will appeal to readers of Starfish and Since You Asked.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD6]</span></b><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>***********</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b>There is no separation of thought here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]</span></b>&nbsp;For her family? Or to save it for herself?<span style="font-family: &quot;cambria&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]&nbsp;</span></b>This should be about her and what she does to/for Zevi, not the other way around. Since this appears to be her story, it needs to be about what she is doing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD4]</span></b> I would delete this since you already talk about big dreams earlier. Perhaps something like ‘a rare and incredible opportunity’</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5]&nbsp;</span></b>A short word-count like this makes me believe the characters and the story aren’t quite as developed as they should be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD6]&nbsp;</span></b>Capitalize your titles and add the authors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Cut. Unnecessary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Awkward phrasing. I think something is missing after “unemployed”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Cut, unnecessary info</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA4]&nbsp;</span></b></span>So if she doesn't get the scholarship, she can never paint again?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wish I reached the end of the query with a clearer sense of why Lillie needs *this* exhibit, *this* scholarship.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div>The query is well written but I do wonder if there is enough happening in the novel? Some editors might feel that the story arc feels too quiet. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>First 250:</b></span></div><br />My hand trembled as I eased the brush over the canvas. With a light coat of black paint, it glowed. I was retouching an old painting of a starry sky in an attempt to spark back my lost art mojo. When I created this, the topic was ‘Freedom’ and I thought of the infinite stars scattered around the cosmos and drew the backside of a girl reaching out to all those possibilities<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b>. Cheesy as hell<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b>, but at the time, the idea possessed me.&nbsp;</div><div><br />I didn’t feel any sense of freedom anymore, and a broken laugh escaped my throat at the irony. Now, the concept of stars reminded me that we only saw the past in the sky. Not the present or the future. The girl stood in front of the darkness.<br /><br />Mr. Akhiro gave me a gentle smile. “Your work is fantastic, Lillie.”<br /><br />Tension slipped away from my shoulders.<b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span></b>&nbsp;As I inhaled the familiar, bitter scent of paints in the art room, I ignored the empty, twisted feeling in my stomach<b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b>. Since lunch time was almost over, I had to leave.<br /><br />The upcoming submission to an art gallery was due in one month, and an outside judge would pick the best artist. The cash prize attracted every art student in Lincoln High, but Mr. Akhiro narrowed down the list to ten, with my name being first on the list. He needed my best paintings because he knew it was my golden ticket to university. If only I could paint.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>*************</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">[JD1] </span>Try "It's cheesy as hell now"</div>Even with the short word count, the query left me interested enough to want to request. Please send your first 3 chapters and your revised query in the body of your email to jess@browerliterary.com. Put Pass or Pages in the subject line.</div><div>&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Is she just using the old paintings to find inspiration, or is she trying to retouch so they can be good enough for entry?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Lovely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>I found the phrasing of this sentence to be a bit confusing.</div>I'd be happy to take a look at the first fifty pages. Please feel free to send them to andrea@harveyklinger.com</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span><b>Results:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess: PAGES!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley: PASS</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea: PAGES!</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div></div>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-60782411888602805892018-07-26T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-26T06:00:03.303-05:00July Pass Or Pages Entry #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for the Pass Or Pages feedback reveals! We're so thankful to our agent panel for taking the time to critique these entries. Shout out to the brave authors whose work will be on the blog this week. You are awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entry #4:</span>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">THE DEBUT</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Query:</b></div><br />I am looking for an agent and would like to be considered for my young adult <b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span></b>novel, THE DEBUT. <br /><br />At approximately 71,000 words, it is a cross between the sarcastic humor of Riley Redgate’s "Noteworthy" and the teenage turmoil<b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b>&nbsp;of Julie Murphy’s "Dumplin’". <b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;<b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]</span></b><br /><br />Freshman year at St. Ambrose Catholic School wasn’t exactly the amazing new beginning Lisbetta (Betta) Meyer had hoped for when she left middle school with a backpack full of anxiety and self-doubt but very few friends. In fact, her first day of high school left her with a nickname no one could question; a nickname<b><span style="color: red;">[WA4]</span></b>&nbsp;she tried very hard to escape all year.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2] </span><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b><br /><br /> Freshman year was also the year her father died. <br /><br />Betta wants nothing more than to move on from her unhappy past&nbsp;<b><span style="color: red;">[WA5]</span></b>&nbsp;nd find her place in a world where everyone, it seems, has it figured out but her. But how do you find your place when you don’t even really know who you are yet? <br /><br />The one thing Betta does know, however, is that Far Hills is where she wants to be. Far Hills—a small, affluent bubble of a beach town along the Jersey Shore, where all the pretty, rich, happy people live peaceful, normal lives. Or so Betta believes. She wants that life, a life so different that she could only ever dream it…<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]</span></b> until the day Far Hills Theater opens auditions for its next show, the controversial&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;musical, "A Chorus Line". <br /><br />From auditions and call-backs, through rehearsals and to the final curtain call, readers will get to know <b><span style="color: blue;">[JD4]</span></b> Betta and her castmates in shocking&nbsp;<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS3]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;and unforeseen ways as they learn about life and about themselves in chapters paralleling the memorable songs from "A Chorus Line" such as “What I Did for Love”, “The Music and the Mirror”, “Nothing” and “At the Ballet”.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: red;">[WA6]</span></b><br /><br />THE DEBUT is meant to be the first in a series of Far Hills Theater novels as Betta and her new theater friends perform their way through high school.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5] </span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>***********</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>[JD1]</b>&nbsp;</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Move this to the bottom. I want to jump into your query. However, this is a personal preference.&nbsp;</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>[JD2]</b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> What’s the nickname?&nbsp;</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>[JD3]</b>&nbsp;</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">This is repetitive. It’s been mentioned how she wants to be there and it’s easy to gather why, therefore this isn’t needed.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>[JD4]</b>&nbsp;</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Keep it about Betta. That she will learn about herself and her castmates in shocking and unforeseen ways.&nbsp;</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;" /><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>[JD5]</b></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> The theater is separate from school, isn’t it?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span></b></span> Be sure to state the genre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b></span> I’m not sure “teenage turmoil” is the best choice of words. What about “drama”?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]&nbsp;</span></b></span>I’m not sure about these comp titles. While similar in setting/atmosphere/tone, NOTEWORTHY is recognizable for its tackling of gender identity and norms; and DUMPLIN’ is widely known for its body positivity / fat girl representation. I’d recommend comparing to these books in situations of similar representation, or if your book has a similar voice and gives representation to another marginalized group</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA4]&nbsp;</span></b></span>If the name isn’t going to be disclosed in the query, I’m not sure it needs to be referenced at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA5]&nbsp;</span></b></span>When does this take place? Summer? Sophomore year? A large amount of real estate is spent on what happened Freshman year, which seems to be a thing of the past</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA6]&nbsp;</span></b></span>This paragraph isn’t really doing anything for you. Nearly all this can be assumed from the line above, and we’re left without knowing anything about the story arcs or the characters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></span></div>I have a somewhat descent sense of the world here, but almost no idea what the story will be. What is Betta’s arc? What is at stake? What is the hook, beyond A Chorus Line?<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>This feels a bit cryptic and I’m not sure if it needs to be? Perhaps it makes sense to simply mention the nickname or leave out reference to it? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>I’m not sure if A Chorus Line would be seen as shocking to a contemporary teen? &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS3]&nbsp;</b></span></span>I think it’s usually best to avoid the word “shocking” in emails because it presupposes a readers’ reaction to something.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>First 250:</b></span></div><br />Pale yellow cotton granny panties. <br /><br />No, I am sadly not referring to the undergarment in which they buried me at a respectful age of 89.<br /><br />Nope!<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b><br /><br />Pale yellow cotton granny panties happened to be the unfortunate piece of clothing not so hidden beneath my kilt when I learned the hard way what the term “skirted” meant to my fellow Catholic school disciples.<br /><br />I would gladly hand over every cent of the $167.38 I have saved from years of birthday money, backyard chores, and bi-annual good grade rewards to erase the memory not only from my own mind, but from those who saw the incident (and the subsequent pictures spread across social media). “Granny Panties” isn’t necessarily the handle a girl would want to earn on her first day at a new school.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span></b><br /><br />I had woken up that first morning of high school so excited. I was finally leaving behind the last few crappy years of my life and moving on, meeting new friends and making new memories…better memories. But, naturally, my sad fate was decided for me halfway through the lunch line.<br /><br />It was almost like I had a flag sticking out of my forehead that told all upperclassmen I was easy prey. Hey guys, here she is, your fresh meat! And man, they nailed it.<br /><br />I was minding my own business, scoping out the different groups of my fellow students and trying to interpret the lunch table situation so I could successfully sit at one without getting laughed off.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>*************</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span></b></span> I would change this to ‘of high school.’ That way the reader can get a sense of how old she is and that she’s experiencing an AWFUL first day of school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>It’s a cute premise and the query did leave me interested, but the voice is a little young for me so I’d have to pass.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div>I don’t think this first page starts at the right place. From how I read the query, freshman year is in Betta’s immediate past, so this would all be exposition.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>I found these opening sentences to be a bit confusing—perhaps think about starting a different way? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>These paragraphs are telling us what happened vs. immersing us in the story—perhaps think about approaching the opening in a different way?</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Results:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess: PASS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley: PASS</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea: PASS</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div></div>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-32111232356196394422018-07-25T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-25T06:00:10.418-05:00July Pass Or Pages Entry #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for the Pass Or Pages feedback reveals! We're so thankful to our agent panel for taking the time to critique these entries. Shout out to the brave authors whose work will be on the blog this week. You are awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entry #3:</span>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">MEMORABLE</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Query:</b></div><div><br /></div>Ryan Rojas’s<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1] </span></b>academic dreams come crashing down when he’s expelled for doing drugs on campus. Condemned to independent study and community service, Ryan has one chance to convince the school board to readmit him. That’s all he wants—until he meets Penny, the bald girl with whom he’s been assigned to volunteer.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;(She has alopecia, a hair loss disorder.)<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;Penny thinks he’s a troublemaker <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS1]</b></span>, but Ryan’s problems with drugs and his reluctance to lend his musical talents to the local BandMasterz program run much deeper—he’s battling guilt about his military dad losing his leg in Afghanistan.<span style="color: red;"><b>[WA1]</b></span><br /><br />While Ryan tries to meet his parents’ and the school’s expectations, <u><span style="color: blue;">he’s</span></u> also wants to prove to Penny that he’s not the loser she thinks he is. But Penny's got more important things than Ryan to worry about, like keeping her suicidal older brother, Brett, alive.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD4] </span><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b><br /><br />Told from alternating points of view,<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;MEMORABLE tackles drug abuse, mental illness, and suicide, while delivering a promise of hope and second chances. Comparable titles include Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD6] </span><span style="color: red;">[WA3]</span></b><br /><br />MEMORABLE, an 80,000 word contemporary YA novel,<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD7]&nbsp;</span></b>&nbsp;received second place in the Rosemary YA Romance Writers of America contest and was a finalist in the Serendipity YA Discovery Contest.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>***********</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Give his age.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Not quite sure what you mean here. Do you mean shadow? Be a mentee? She’s his babysitter? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>[JD3]&nbsp;</b></span>This should be added into the description of Penny and not added in parenthesis. It took me out of the query the way it is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>[JD4]&nbsp;</b></span>While your query shouldn’t be too long, I also want more information. What exactly is this story about? How do these two people with heavy issues come together? What is the journey each of them take? How do they help each other? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Because it’s alternating POV and Penny is a large part of it, she should get her own paragraph and then the two of them should come together. His story, her story, their story together. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD6]&nbsp;</span></b></span>All titles should be in caps<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>[JD7]&nbsp;</b></span>You already mentioned the title, so the word count and contemporary YA should go with the introduction of the title.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;">&nbsp;</span></b><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">&nbsp;</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>This feels tacked on, and don't really bear any weight on the rest of the pitch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Almost all of the stakes here seem to be based on the personalization of someone else's pain (suicidal brother, amputee father, ...).&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Honestly, this would be an instant pass for me. While I more than understand that disabilities such mental illness have an effect on more than just the individual, this feels as though the disability (and the individual directly affected) is being presented as a hardship on a family member. Looking at disabilities only from that lens often ends up being either preachy or inaccurate, and it helps to further the narrative of ableism.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: inherit;"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS1]&nbsp;</b></span></span>Word perhaps feels a bit old fashioned?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>First 250:</b></span></div><br />Most people don’t get what it’s like living on the edge of a knife.<br /><br />I do.<br /><br />For me, life is a constant juggling act between peace and an all-out Mt. Vesuvius eruption. I wish I could change it, but I can’t. All I can do is try to keep all the balls from crashing down. Right now, I’m not doing a very good job of it. <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS1]</b></span><br /><br />When I push open my brother’s door, I half expect to see his bedroom plastered with band posters and his shelves piled high with sheet music. But the freshly painted beige walls are blank, the shelves empty. We’ve lived here almost two months and the posters are still rolled up in the corner, the music and his other stuff still packed in boxes, like he doesn’t plan on staying long.<br /><br />I spot him curled up on his bed. There’s a familiar tension in the air, like a predator lurking in the shadows ready to strike.<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span><br /><br />“Brett?” I step cautiously into the room. “I’m sorry, okay?”<br /><br />He growls a warning. “Leave me alone, Penny.” <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA1]</b></span><br /><br />It’s my fault Brett’s acting like this. He borrowed my Beats and broke them, but why did I have to lose my temper over it? My short fuse set him off, so Brett’s angry, but not at me.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span></b>&nbsp;He’s pissed at himself, and under normal circumstances he ought to be. But life with Brett is anything but normal, and I can’t afford to go where I know this road is heading.<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS3]</b></span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>*************</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>There’s something about this sentence that isn’t sitting right with me. Why did her short fuse set him off? And wouldn’t that initial anger be at her because of the short fuse? I would reword it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like the writing, but based on the query letter and what I gather the story is about, I would pass.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>With the query so heavily focused on Ryan, it's jarring to be dropped into Peggy's POV.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: inherit;"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS1]&nbsp;</b></span></span>I tend to prefer when protagonists don’t talk directly to the reader, when we are simply immersed in the plot and the action itself (and this type of information is shown through the narrative as it progresses).&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span>&nbsp;Perhaps too much? The “growls” a few lines later helps take care of this image.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS3]</span></b>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2">I’m going to pass on this but another agent could certainly be a good fit.</a></span></div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Results:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess: PASS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley: PASS</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea: PASS</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-56022428438337470432018-07-24T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-24T06:00:07.749-05:00July Pass Or Pages Entry #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for the Pass Or Pages feedback reveals! We're so thankful to our agent panel for taking the time to critique these entries. Shout out to the brave authors whose work will be on the blog this week. You are awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entry #2:</span>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">CONVICT ISLAND</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Query:</b></div><br />Like most seniors, Cortez has a few goals for his last year of high school: get the girl, get into college, don't piss off the one-eyed murderous psycho in control of the island of convicts.&nbsp;<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b><br /><br />Cortez is sent to the government-owned island housing the most hardened criminals for a crime he didn't commit.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]</span><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b>&nbsp;He stumbles into a commune of convicts <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA3]</b></span> ruled by Mason<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]</span></b>&nbsp;and tries to find allies among the murderers. After he gets on Mason’s bad side, Cortez is rescued by Sam—the leader for a group of female convicts hidden on the island. Together, they learn Mason is a puppet for a group using the island to manufacture drugs and that once his servitude is complete, the gang will take Mason off the island and kill those left behind.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD4]</span></b>&nbsp;Cortez and Sam must come up with a plan to escape before Mason sadistically punishes the islanders that oppose them. <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA4]</b></span><br /><br />A combination of The Maze Runner and Arrow<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD5]</span><span style="color: red;">[WA5]</span></b>, CONVICT ISLAND is an 80K-word YA adventure centered on the humorous voice <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span> of a minority<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD6]</span></b>&nbsp;protagonist <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS3]</b></span> outside the typical urban setting. <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA6]</b></span> The story also touches on the issue of the overflowing US prison system. When the number of inmates becomes too great, perhaps something similar to the British unloading convicts on islands to fend for themselves isn’t too far-fetched.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD7]</span></b><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>***********</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>The fact that he is living there should be mentioned here. <span style="font-family: &quot;cambria&quot;; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>Rework this sentence; it doesn’t make sense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]&nbsp;</span></b></span>How does he stumble into it if he was sent there? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD4]&nbsp;</span></b></span>I would have stopped reading here. I don’t quite understand who Cortez is or why he’s been sent to this island or what the crux of the story is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">[JD5]</span><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Capitalize titles and include author/network of show.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD6]</span></b><b style="color: black;"> </b>Specify which minority group he belongs to.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD7]&nbsp;</span></b></span>If this is a theme your manuscript touches on and is important to the story, it needs to come out more in the description. Based on the paragraph above, this wouldn’t have entered my mind. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>For YA, we know going in that the MC is a teenager. We don't need it to be spelled out how "like" other teens they are. Cut to the chase, and hook us with an exceptional book.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA2]</b></span>&nbsp;While good to note, I wouldn't lead with this detail since it doesn't appear to have any weight on the major plotline.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA3]</b></span>&nbsp;I want a clearer understanding of what the world of the island is. Is landing on the island a life sentence, or are some inmates eventually going to get out? (Noting Cortez wants to get into college makes me think the latter). Are the inhabitants wholly ungoverned, the convicts free to do anything so long as they leave the island? Or is there some sort of body (beyond Mason's gang) overseeing the island?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA4]</b></span>&nbsp;So the main motivation in the novel for both Cortez and Sam is escape from Mason?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA5]</b></span>&nbsp;Comp title choice? When I hear Arrow, I think superhero. (But then, I don't watch Arrow, so maybe I'm just missing something?)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA6]</b></span>&nbsp;Unnecessary. The setting is understood from the query. I'd just say "A combination of The Maze Runner and Arrow, CONVICT is an 80K-word YA adventure that features a latinx protagonist."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: inherit;"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS1]&nbsp;</b></span></span>I think that this could potentially be misleading/confusing to agents. You might be better off simply leading with the title of the book, the genre and comp titles.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span>&nbsp;It’s usually best to let agents determine whether the voice is humorous from the sample pages (vs. telling them in the query letter).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS3]</span></b>&nbsp;One thing to be aware of:&nbsp;with the prominence of OwnVoices these days, it’s important to editors that the author share their protagonist’s ethnic or cultural background. So if this is an OwnVoices project you’ll definitely want to mention that in your query letter.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>First 250:</b></span></div><br />The sunlight is blinding after an uncertain number of days and nights held captive below deck. I squint to see the island that’s likely to be my grave. <br /><br />The ship lurches and turns until it’s parallel to the island like <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA1]</b></span> we’re about to walk the plank <b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b>. The officer speaks. I hear nothing. He puts a knife in my hand. I shove it in my pocket absentmindedly as if just given spare change.<br /><br />“You animals aren’t the first brutes to be dropped off,” the officer tells us <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA2]</b></span>. “There’s more like you here. Unless they’ve killed each other.” He laughs with his subordinates. They enjoy this—like spectators watching gladiators. “You’re jumping overboard here. We’re not wasting fuel to get closer for your convenience.”<br /><br />The island looks big enough for me to possibly avoid the others for awhile. Unless it’s crawling with them. With us.<br /><br />Deadly scenarios had run through my mind on our trip here—being beaten to death by heartless men free to do what they wish or being devoured by a man-eating cat—but surfacing now is the possibility of drowning before I even get to the island. I can’t swim.<br /><br />The guard reads my concern. “Don’t worry, buttercup. I’ll lend you a raft.” He chucks a bag overboard. It pops open and morphs into a bright yellow raft, the wind tossing and spinning as it descends <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span> to the water.<br /><br />Me and the two others look from the raft to each other, realizing the game of survival starts now. <span style="color: red;"><b>[WA3]</b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS3]</b></span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>*************</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><b>[WA1]&nbsp;</b></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m not sure I understand the connection here, and honestly, I don’t think this needs to be stated. “You’re jumping overboard” doesn’t hold as much shock value when we already have walking the plank in our minds.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[WA2]</b></span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Us being who, exactly? We later learn it’s the two other convicts, but that should be stated up front.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]</span></b>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Overall, this sample feels so removed from the speaker. For such a terrifying moment, I don't feel any of Cortez's fear, and I don't have a sense of whether he's a fighter or a flyer.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: inherit;"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS1]&nbsp;</b></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maybe not necessary? We already have a sense of the situation from the surrounding context.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>[AS2]</b></span>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">….spinning</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span><u style="font-size: 12pt;">it&nbsp;</u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">as it descends…</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS3]</span></b>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Nice sense of tension straight from the start.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Results:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess: PASS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley: PASS</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea: PAGES! Please send first 50&nbsp;pages to&nbsp;</b></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;cambria&quot;; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>andrea@harveyklinger.com.</b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-39761834751498751752018-07-23T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-23T06:00:05.095-05:00July Pass Or Pages Entry #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time for the Pass Or Pages feedback reveals! We're so thankful to our agent panel for taking the time to critique these entries. Shout out to the brave authors whose work will be on the blog this week. You are awesome!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entry #1:</span>&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">THE JOURNEY WE SHARE</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Query:</b></div><br />I’m currently seeking representation for THE JOURNEY WE SHARE, a contemporary, #ownvoices<b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]</span></b> YA novel complete at 78,000 words. <br /><br />In rural India, during the early 2000s, fifteen-year-old Mira longs to complete her education, but her abusive father forces her to work in the family restaurant and plans to marry her off to a man twice her age.<br /><br />Thirteen years later, fifteen-year-old Steven’s severe anxiety obstructs his everyday life at a wealthy New England boarding school and he questions his will to live.<br /><br />Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old Mpholo faces the challenge of raising and supporting his younger siblings in stigma-rich Uganda after his mother dies from AIDS and his father commits suicide.<b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]</span></b><br /><br />On the surface, the three teenagers have almost nothing in common; however, their lives become inextricably linked when Mpholo and Steven both come across a memoir<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD1]</span></b> Mira wrote years’ prior.<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]</span></b>&nbsp;Driven by a combination of aspiration and uncertainty, the two use Mira’s story and the people they meet along the way to try and find peace <b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b>in a challenging world. Will they succeed, though?<b><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]</span></b><br /><br />From the rural villages of India, to the tree-covered hills of New England, and the vast savanna of Uganda, THE JOURNEY WE SHARE illustrates how fear and dreams are universal and the ways they connect us are more meaningful than they appear. It will appeal to readers of WRITTEN IN THE STARS by Aisha Saeed and THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE by Patrick Ness.<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]</span></b><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>***********</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: blue;"><b>[JD1]</b></span><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Journal</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD2]</span></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">&nbsp;</span></span></span>They are both in different countries, so where did they come upon the memoir? Is this an adventure they go on together? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">[JD3]</span></b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">&nbsp;</span></span></span>Instead of asking a question, make it more personal to the characters. Something about how the journal helps Steven deal with his anxiety and Mpholo becomes his own person, separate from a caretaker for his siblings. Questions can be off-putting in queries, so try to stay away from them and get into the heart of your story instead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA1]&nbsp;</span></b></span>When there are multiple marginalized voices represented in a book pitched as #OwnVoices, I tend to recommend that authors clearly state how they relate as "own"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA2]&nbsp;</span></b></span>While providing great insight into the individual characters, these paragraphs take up a lot of real estate yet feel wholly disconnected from the story being set up. Besides Mira, I don't have a clear understanding as to what the story will be or what journey these characters will be undertaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">[WA3]&nbsp;</span></b></span>A rather vague set up. I wish we had a more concrete sense of what the book will be… and what will happen if they don’t succeed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>This is a bit vague—you might want to clarify and further define the conflict and the stakes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>I thought these were strong comp titles.<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span>I suggest clarifying the OwnVoices connection. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div>The way the query structured is a bit confusing—which makes sense, as it can be challenging to introduce three separate story lines, especially if they span time and space! What I suggest doing is starting with the description of Steven and Mpholo. You would then transition with the sentence, “On the surface, the two of them have nothing in common….” You could then mention Mira, as you do, but give us her background information that you include initially at this point instead.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>First 250:</b></span></div><br />The journey to the restaurant was a reminder of broken dreams for Mira. Each time she&nbsp;<b style="color: blue;">[JD1]</b>felt as if she was walking through the<b style="color: blue;">[JD2]</b>&nbsp;museum exhibitions she&nbsp;<b style="color: blue;">[JD3]</b>read about in books. Only<b style="color: blue;">[JD4]</b>&nbsp;this exhibition did not highlight crown jewels or famous portraits, but rather her hidden desires and failures.&nbsp;</div><div><br />On one corner, she passed the school she used to attend<b style="color: blue;">[JD5]</b>. In a couple hours, other girls her age would sit on wooden benches diligently taking notes about astronomy or literature, while she would be slaving away in the kitchen submitting to a barrage of insults from her father. Mira’s chest tightened at the thoughts<b style="color: blue;">[JD6]</b>&nbsp;and she clenched her jaw.</div><div><br />A few meters further, she crossed past the sweets stand where<b style="color: blue;">[JD7]</b>&nbsp;an overweight man groped her and squeezed her from behind while she waited in line for jalebis. At the time, she bit her tongue and did not fight back, knowing it would get her nowhere.<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]&nbsp;</span></b></div><div><br />“Arre…move out of the way! Why are you just standing there?” a man screamed waving his hand as he pushed a cart of coconuts.<br /><br />“Sorry, sir. Sorry,” Mira responded. She moved out of the middle of the road, ashamed that her thoughts caused her to stop in her tracks and forget her surroundings.<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]&nbsp;</span></b></div><div><br />“Stupid girl. Don’t just stand in the street like that. People have work to do unlike you.”<b><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS3]&nbsp;</span></b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>*************</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess's Notes:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: blue;">[JD1] </b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">delete "she"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[JD2]&nbsp;</b></span>delete "the"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: blue;">[JD3] </b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">add "had only"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[JD4]&nbsp;</b></span>Try "except" instead of "only."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[JD5]&nbsp;</b></span>When did she stop attending? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: blue;">[JD6] </b><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">delete "at the thoughts"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[JD7]&nbsp;</b></span>When did this happen? Give the reader a timeline. </div><div><br /></div>I would have been intrigued enough to read the first chapter, but ultimately it would be a pass for me. I was hoping to see Mira’s story strictly from the POV of her journal while the boys went on their journey.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley's Notes:</span></b></span></div>I loved the first couple paragraphs, but I wish it’d moved on to the now—and to father’s restaurant—rather than continuing to the sweets stand memory, thus making the first present action a man calling her out of her memory.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea's Notes:</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS1]</span></b></span></span> It feels as if we’re being told what happened to Mira vs. engaged in the action itself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;">[AS2]&nbsp;</span></b></span></span>I’m not sure if we need this? The dialogue and her actions give us some insight into what she’s feeling, and usually it’s best to let readers infer some things vs. spelling everything out.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>[AS3]&nbsp;</b></span></span>Perhaps too heavy-handed and unnecessary? We already have a sense of the dismal state of her life.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Results:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jess: PASS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b><span style="color: red;">Whitley: PAGES! Please submit the first 50 pages, query, and synopsis to&nbsp;</span></b></span>QueryMe.online/jdlit_whitley/PassOrPages</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><b>Andrea: PASS</b></span></span></div><br /></div>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-89485642231366926662018-07-20T00:00:00.000-05:002018-07-20T02:56:42.616-05:00Volunteers Wanted<h2>We're looking for three new volunteers to join the Operation Awesome Team! Interested?</h2><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Regularly <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/read?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#read</a> and create a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blogpost?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blogpost</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/idea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#idea</a> about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WriteTip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WriteTip</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WritingAdvice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WritingAdvice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QueryTip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QueryTip</a> ? Know about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WritersLife?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WritersLife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/authors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#authors</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/publishing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#publishing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SelfPublishing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SelfPublishing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndieAuthors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndieAuthors</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/motivation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#motivation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/inspiration?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#inspiration</a> ? Consider volunteering <a href="https://twitter.com/OpAwesome6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpAwesome6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blog</a> <a href="https://t.co/LIHzcZYSR1">https://t.co/LIHzcZYSR1</a> <a href="https://t.co/kTG6vEZYlf">pic.twitter.com/kTG6vEZYlf</a></div>— Operation Awesome (@OpAwesome6) <a href="https://twitter.com/OpAwesome6/status/1020215062517157890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <br />Please RT/ share the above message! <br /><br /><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/oGLdh2gnZER6abSJ2">https://goo.gl/forms/oGLdh2gnZER6abSJ2</a>&nbsp;⇦ Use this link to apply. <br /><br /><h3>Operation Awesome</h3><br />Want to give back to the writing community? <br />Would you be willing to share tips, a love of words, and knowledge on the creation of books? <br />Operation Awesome is a blog family. <br />Consider joining us. <br /><br /><a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html">Click to read more about Operation Awesome.</a><br /><br />If you're interested in joining the team, please fill out this application: <br /><br /><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/oGLdh2gnZER6abSJ2">https://goo.gl/forms/oGLdh2gnZER6abSJ2</a>J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-21576901934721246612018-07-19T05:00:00.000-05:002018-07-19T05:00:01.282-05:00Synopsis Critique #25: YA Fantasy<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, it's time for this week's synopsis critique! The author of A WITCH AWAKENING, a YA Fantasy novel, submitted this synopsis. My in-line comments are [</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">blue and in brackets</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">], and I'll include a summary at the end. Feel free to comment below! </span><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span>f you'd like a primer on how to write a synopsis, see my posts&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/01/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-one.html" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/02/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-two-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/forms/d6OzMyIQal7p9JPr1" target="_blank">here</a>, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com. (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></b></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Aviana Greenwood spends her days at the family bakery creating sweet breads and savory pastries while using her magic to quicken the process. It’s a pleasant life, but she yearns to do more with her magic and wants to do it without keeping her powers a secret.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">In the Kingdom of Falder, a woman with magic is a witch, and witches have no place in society. Aviana grew up hiding her magic, but when she turns 16 she’s given another option.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Her great uncle Nero offers to train her&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span>, and Aviana jumps at the chance, even though it hurts to leave the bakery and her family behind.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span>On the journey, Nero surprises her with a new idea. She could enroll at the University—all she has to do is enroll as a boy.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">If she get’s caught, she’ll become an outcast, forced to leave the life she knows behind.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span>But if she doesn’t, she’ll get to spend the next years learning from the best professors in the realm. She’ll get to follow in her late father’s footsteps. It’s what she’s always wanted, a dream she’d thought was impossible. Aviana agrees to his plan.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Avi (as she goes by now) begins training for admissions and befriends Nero’s apprentice, Gavin. He’s planning to start at the University this year too, and he’ll be there to help her when Nero cannot. Their friendship is easy—maybe because he knows her secret, or maybe that’s just Gavin.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">They pass admissions. Classes are difficult, and Avi (who’s had little training) is behind from the start. But she works hard, gets help from her friends, and gains confidence when she realizes she’s skilled at potion making.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">She befriends other students, and is guilt–ridden over keeping her secret from them. Avi isn’t hiding her magic, but now she’s hiding another part of herself.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span>It’s especially hard lying to Celia, a girl from the local finishing school who has feelings for Avi. Avi feels guilty for potentially leading Celia on, for lying to her, and for hurting her by not reciprocating feelings.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Adding to her worries, Avi meets Jax, an arrogant student who seems determined to ruin her time at the University. At first Avi isn’t sure why, but she soon discovers he’s jealous of her friendship with Celia. His family is close to Celia’s, and he hopes for an arranged marriage but thinks Avi is in the way.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Gavin’s always there to cheer up Avi when Jax is being an ass<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span>, but under Gavin’s happy demeanor hides a sad secret. His sister has magic and is locked up at home because of it. Gavin was sent to Nero’s before he could help, but he has a plan to save her. His father wants an heir, a male heir, so Gavin offers his life in exchange for his sister’s. He’ll return home, run the family estates, marry whomever his father picks, and live a life he never wanted.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">When Gavin confides his plan to Avi, she gives another solution: she could reveal her secret. If people knew witches weren’t dangerous, Gavin’s sister could be freed. The idea distresses him. He’s seen the vicious reactions people have to a girl with magic.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">So Avi drops the conversation, but the idea doesn’t go away. Society believes men were given magic because they’re superior; they alone have the cool logic and control needed to properly cast spells. Would women be treated as equals if society knew they could safely wield magic too?&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Celia worries over the future planned for her, lamenting the fact that she’s meant to marry and run a household instead of pursuing her own dreams. Like Avi, she wants to study and learn—to know more about the world around her. Avi brings her to the University library, a chance to read books she can’t access elsewhere. Jax finds them there, and later that week the University bans girls from visiting. If society knew witches weren’t dangerous, would they think of women as more than future wives and mothers?&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">As the year continues, Avi can’t rid herself of the idea that she should be doing more. She gets to be at the University while other witches live in hiding, suppressing their powers. Women are treated as lesser because it’s thought they can’t properly wield magic. And what will Avi do when she finishes her studies? She doesn’t wish to dress as a man forever. She decides she’ll reveal her secret and waits for an opportune moment.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">On the last day of term, Gavin’s father calls him home. It’s time for Gavin to fulfill his father’s wishes. If Avi wants to help him, she has to act now. She goes to the headmaster and reveals her secret. The headmaster supports her, but not all professors do, and some call for her to be locked up or sent away.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Instead she’s expelled; her dream of studying at the University is snatched away. But there’s still hope of a happy ending. A council is formed to determine if women can safely use magic. Nero is appointed to lead the council and asks Avi to help. They’ll recruit other witches and show that Avi is not an exception.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">But the night after the council is formed, Avi’s endangered. Nero’s house is defaced with a message calling Avi to leave town, and Avi learns of Jax’s plan to stop her. He’s recruited people to take her magic, something Avi didn’t even know was possible. She’s scared but determined to continue her work for the council. She’s a witch and she’s no longer hiding.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Comments<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span><span style="background-color: white;">You don’t need to specify her exact age in a synopsis, but I’d like to get a sense of whether she’s a teen (younger or older) or adult. In the next paragraph, it’s mentioned she’s given an option when she turns sixteen, but does that mean she’s newly sixteen at the beginning of the book? It’s worth mentioning, just to prevent confusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span><span style="background-color: white;">I assume you mean train her to use her magic, but it’s worth specifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Why does she have to leave to get the training? Does Nero live elsewhere?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Leaving the life she knows is a negative, but what else does becoming an outcase entail?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span><span style="background-color: white;">This makes sense, given her skill at baking. If these are related, I’d point out this detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span><span style="background-color: white;">I would remind the reader here that Avi is pretending to be a boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span><span style="background-color: white;">The tone of “an ass” doesn’t quite match the rest of the synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Is there more to this plan? Seems to me that people are so entrenched in the belief that witches are dangerous that Avi revealing herself wouldn’t be enough to change their minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span><span style="background-color: white;">This sentence doesn’t quite seem to lead from the one before it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span><span style="background-color: white;">This ending feels really abrupt. Is this the actual ending of the book? If not, add a few more details explaining what happens at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is a really strong synopsis for what sounds like a great book. My notes are mostly nit-picks. Great job!</span><o:p></o:p></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></div>Jaime Olinhttps://plus.google.com/106364460821210326323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-33919313195213602742018-07-18T06:23:00.000-05:002018-07-18T06:23:08.181-05:00Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight<center> <img alt="Debut Author Spotlight from @JLenniDorner on @OpAwesome6" height="230" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35606653480_d4ff0d4a4b_o.jpg" width="255" /> </center><center><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B07D5W5VBL&amp;asins=B07D5W5VBL&amp;linkId=bcf9c7db4a3bf56a8f7a5aadc807650f&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2LuV56G">Once.: Tales, Myths and Legends of Faerie by Ronel Janse van Vuuren</a></center><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">I'm excited to introduce all of you to Ronel, a talented writer and blogger I met during the A to Z challenge. Check out this interview. - J</span> <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">1- Your book has debuted in English. What other languages is it in?</span><br /><br />Afrikaans. It originally won a publishing competition in November 2017 and I’ve since published it in English – it took a while to learn everything I needed to know about being an indie publisher.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">2-What five words represent your most notable characteristic or values? #In5Words</span><br /><br />Dependability. Perseverance. Open-mindedness. Compassion. Environmentalism.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">3- What ignited your passion for writing?</span><br /><br />What if…? I love asking that question. It made sense to start writing it all down, truly seeing where a story could lead and perhaps entertain others, too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7H1kyjTb8M/W08XNqZzD_I/AAAAAAAABZc/x27MO7F8w5ssq8wI_6dNfL0oY5rhJPaVACLcBGAs/s1600/Ronel1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight" border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="717" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7H1kyjTb8M/W08XNqZzD_I/AAAAAAAABZc/x27MO7F8w5ssq8wI_6dNfL0oY5rhJPaVACLcBGAs/s400/Ronel1.jpeg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">4- Would you share a picture with us of your book in an interesting setting? </span><br /><br />Of course. I’ve been playing around with pictures of books I’ve read for Instagram and came up with this one for both language editions of mine incorporating the Dark Fantasy elements of the book.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">5- How do you research myths from all over the world?</span><br /><br />I have a couple of folklore books that serve as a basis – my favourites being Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore, Mythology, and Magic by Clade Lecouteux; The Forest in Folklore and Mythology by Alexander Porteous; Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology by Theresa Bane; Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore by Theresa Bane; The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper. I also consult The Poetic Edda; the sacred texts site that archives all ancient folklore and mythology texts; and the folklore and mythology site hosted by the University of Pittsburgh that lists, categorizes and hosts all folk texts imaginable.<br /><br />You’d be amazed at what you can find when you start researching a specific subject. Google can be your friend – just verify your sources.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">6- What are some of your short and long term writing goals?</span><br /><br />In the next six months I want to finish the first book in my middle-grade Adventures of Saphira the Faery Dog series and get it published end of November 2018 (in English and Afrikaans), polish the young adult novel (in Afrikaans) for the Sanlam Youth Literature Prize competition and send it in before deadline, enter the Insecure Writer’s Support Group short story competition (details on that will be shared in September on their blog), and write the long fantasy short story requested by Reimaginings Books for an anthology they’re planning.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyhoCFtYinA/W08Xv3FzhcI/AAAAAAAABZk/0MPq4hbTJ6MigkXQUGBfjskp5lJiYhjOACLcBGAs/s1600/ronel2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uyhoCFtYinA/W08Xv3FzhcI/AAAAAAAABZk/0MPq4hbTJ6MigkXQUGBfjskp5lJiYhjOACLcBGAs/s320/ronel2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Long term? Enter more anthology competitions (that’s a good way to get your work in front of new readers), publish the entire Saphira series, publish my work in as many formats as possible (ebook, paperback, audiobook, etc.), (finally!) finish and publish my YA trilogy I’ve been rewriting for ages, and then work on the other projects I’ve been tinkering with. I know, my six-month plan is much more detailed and obsessed over (you should see the post-its on my calendar). This is what May looked like with finalising this book and doing the launch. <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">7- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?</span><br /><br />Looking at Goodreads, I have several. (Which is awesome!) I even had a reader tell me in person how much they loved the book – and how much it made her cry. Turns out the themes of change and loss throughout the book, even though it’s all “make-believe”, has a powerful effect on readers. <br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">8- What is your favorite book (by someone else), and what do you love most about that book?</span><br /><br />I have so many favourites! Right now, “The Darkest Part of the Forest” by Holly Black is my favourite. I love how she used folklore and the reversal of roles (a girl is “the knight in shining armour” and she has to save her prince), the book has great diverse characters, it looks at the darkest part of our natures (which Dark Fantasy is all about, of course), and it’s a fast-paced story that keeps you guessing.<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00K5UNWV4&amp;asins=B00K5UNWV4&amp;linkId=a1f40915732ccf0705dedc4a8c97b9bb&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <a href="https://goodreads.com/review/show/2321708275">Click for my Goodreads</a> review.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">9- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers? </span><br /><br />It is my wish that each story helps the reader on their own journey, making them feel each emotion with each character, and ultimately leave them with hope. As for a particular scene? There are a few that capture different emotions… but I think the scene where a character punches someone out cold for her pet might be the best one.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">10- What most helped you to improve your writing craft?</span><br /><br />Reading a lot of books on the subject (and doing the exercises) and writing – a lot. It’s only by implementing the lessons learned in books that you get better.<br /><br /><a href="https://goodreads.com/review/list/69664009-ronel-janse-van-vuuren?shelf=writing-craft">Click for my Goodreads shelf</a> of books that I've found useful!<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">That's awesome! I have a shelf like that too.</span> <a href="https://goodreads.com/review/list/7120981-j-dorner?shelf=book-on-writing">Click for J's shelf</a><span style="color: orangered;"> of books on writing.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">11- What's your favorite part of NaNoWriMo?</span><br /><br />Letting go of fear (of failure, of wasting time, of whatever is bothering me at the moment) and just writing the story. It’s already plotted – just write! A bad page can always be rewritten.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">12- What is one thing tourist are most often surprised to learn about South Africa? </span><br /><br />That lions don’t actually wander the street, except after a rugby game featuring the Lions Rugby Team. Jokes aside, there are many wonderful and beautiful places to visit that tourists hardly ever see because they aren’t as widely advertised as the “safe” and expensive places. If you go exploring – keeping your wits about you and listening to your instincts – you can immerse yourself in our cultural diversity.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">13- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?</span><br /><br />Carina, one of my many “damsels/princesses” in this book, loves to eat fried worms for breakfast.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">14- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? <a href="https://diversebooks.org">https://diversebooks.org</a> #WeNeedDiverseBooks </span><br /><br />Some of my Fae characters cannot wield magic – which is almost unheard of in a society where even the smallest Pixie has magic. This causes the end of a relationship, a complete migration of this character’s family and friends who are like him to another realm, resulting in catastrophe for others. Another character is so viciously cursed that she has to live in isolation – and the guy who falls in love with the “normal” side of her has to learn to deal with her cursed side. There’s also a weird cultural/religious aspect to a specific family of Fae in one of the stories who has to marry a mortal to keep everyone safe.<br /><br />I’m sure there are a few things that I’ve used in the book that I’m not even aware of, but readers will notice.<br /><br />For the most part, I don’t ask my characters if they’re green, blue or a fantastic shade of purple. I’ll add it if it’s relevant to the plot, but otherwise I think readers should be able to fill in their own details of what the characters look like. Besides, if I describe every character in detail all the guys will look like Ian Somerhalder/Ryan Reynolds/Jesse Williams/Chris Hemsworth depending on my mood. How boring! And if my characters don’t tell me who they’re attracted to/in love with, I’m not going to guess – that’s just rude. They’ll tell me when they’re ready for a next story.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">15- Which character has your favorite Personality Contradiction?</span><br /><br />Beira. She’s vicious and caring. I can’t wait to write more stories featuring her.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">16- Does your book hold a mirror up to society, and in what way?</span><br /><br />Yes. Mostly it looks at relationships – of all kinds – and our preconceptions of what they should be. It shows that you should do what is right for you, not necessarily society, and the cost if you don’t.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">17- What do you enjoy most about the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/">#AtoZchallenge</a> for bloggers?</span><br /><br />The rush of having to blog every day, visit and comment on various blogs, meeting new people and catching up with old friends.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">18- Can you think of any small change in the world you could make to benefit hundreds of other authors or readers potentially?</span><br /><br />By not offering my books for free, readers won’t fill up their e-readers with yet another book they won’t read “because it’s not good enough to be sold, so not good enough to read” which in turn will benefit them by having to spend expensive-coffee-money on a book they’ll actually read (value perceived is value achieved) and that will help other authors by creating sales of their books. I’ve heard a lot of other authors talk about this, but not doing. This has the potential of teaching a lesson: you have to give to get. (Maybe it has to do with my country’s current political climate, but I strongly believe that you cannot just take without compensation: someone had worked hard for that thing you want, so treat them fairly.)<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">19- As a reader, what most motivates you to buy a new book to read?</span><br /><br />The cover in combination with the blurb. I’ve been burned by a great combo a few times with the actual story not fitting with either, but that’s still the number one way for me to find a new book to read. Just the other day I visited a bookstore without the intent to buy, just looking at covers, when one pulled me in so completely I had to buy it. I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, but I have high hopes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0jhyH6fV1M/W08bZlqhQ5I/AAAAAAAABZw/Iz2o4Oq0544pdjml6ZgEkwY4yRoKhVJ1ACLcBGAs/s1600/Ronel3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w0jhyH6fV1M/W08bZlqhQ5I/AAAAAAAABZw/Iz2o4Oq0544pdjml6ZgEkwY4yRoKhVJ1ACLcBGAs/s200/Ronel3.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/34964846-between-the-blade-and-the-heart">Goodreads Link</a>&nbsp; &nbsp;<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1250084792&amp;asins=1250084792&amp;linkId=f45be99cbab592416bd8e33d7c4627ff&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">20- How will you measure your publishing performance?</span><br /><br />Probably by my fans. I’ve won awards for my writing before, but hearing from fans how much they love my stories is so much more satisfying than a trophy gathering dust.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">21- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?</span><br /><br />After trying the traditional route for longer than I care to think about, hearing about so many good things happening to indie author friends and then winning the publishing competition with this collection, I had an A-ha! moment and knew that this was the way I should publish. I like to be in control of everything, so why not?<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">22- What's the best book marketing strategy you've come across?</span><br /><br />Doing interviews about my latest release. It turns out that readers love to know more about the person behind the book.<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">😊 You just hit the heart of why I'm committed to the Debut Author Spotlight here at OA! 💘</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">23- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?</span><br /><br />I’d really like to know what their views are on character description (question 14 about diversity in books): do they prefer filling in the details or do they want to know exactly what I mean when I say that Carina has “unruly curly hair”?<br /><br /><span style="color: orangered;">24- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f96N7OgV7a8/W08hbWrmBnI/AAAAAAAABZ8/5YNBiKZsEgo7itNLDE3x_-0rC0_mMJKVQCLcBGAs/s1600/ronel5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f96N7OgV7a8/W08hbWrmBnI/AAAAAAAABZ8/5YNBiKZsEgo7itNLDE3x_-0rC0_mMJKVQCLcBGAs/s320/ronel5.jpeg" width="201" height="320" data-original-width="1003" data-original-height="1600" alt="Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight #myth #books Ronel the Mythmaker" /></a></div><h2>Blurb:</h2><br /><br />Damsels in distress, curses, echoes of faery tales and tragic love affairs swirl together in sixteen stories found in a dragon’s lair by a curious half-fae. Unexpected changes to reality causes more than one damsel to turn into a strong, independent woman who takes charge of her own life.<br />A collection of short stories about Faerie and the fae that live in the human realm. A few of the stories had won competitions and all of them had enchanted readers.<br /><br /><br />Learn their secrets and enter the realm of the fae…<br />ISBN EPUB: 978-0-6399476-2-4<br />ISBN Paperback: 978-0-6399476-3-1<br />Publication date: 23 May 2018<br />Available on most online retailers.<br />Also available in Afrikaans as “Eens…”.<br />Universal Book Links for Afrikaans and English versions of this book:<br />“Eens…” <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bwYWzZ">https://www.books2read.com/u/bwYWzZ</a><br />“Once…” <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bzPPpD">https://www.books2read.com/u/bzPPpD</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqEE182MHpA/W08hk1GurOI/AAAAAAAABaA/mfBE-9V-7cInCc70frLkErysPomDM8rUwCLcBGAs/s1600/ronel66.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DqEE182MHpA/W08hk1GurOI/AAAAAAAABaA/mfBE-9V-7cInCc70frLkErysPomDM8rUwCLcBGAs/s320/ronel66.jpeg" width="320" height="180" data-original-width="560" data-original-height="315" alt="Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight #myth #books Ronel the Mythmaker"/></a></div><h2>Excerpt:</h2><br /><br />Mortals cannot perceive the veil unless they are invited to – or extremely gifted. For centuries, Man and Fae have been kept apart, for nothing good ever comes from them mixing. The collection of The Adventures of Saphira the Faery Dog is proof of this.<br /><br />Still, there are magical creatures that side neither with Man nor Fae.<br /><br />Dragons are such creatures. They hold the knowledge of both worlds. Some even collect it in the written word, keeping it safe in their lairs.<br /><br />An inquisitive half-fae once broke into the lair of a dragon known to hoard books. The knowledge she found was too much to keep to herself…<br /><br />Here are a few tales, myths and legends from Faerie. Some may sound remarkably similar to legends held by mortals, while others are… well… as otherworldly as the fae themselves.<br /><br /><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPYQY7Emj1w/W08hws28gxI/AAAAAAAABaI/tElyv_oBO98NLvOjF-eVOyg3SKBdJXAsQCLcBGAs/s1600/ronel7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPYQY7Emj1w/W08hws28gxI/AAAAAAAABaI/tElyv_oBO98NLvOjF-eVOyg3SKBdJXAsQCLcBGAs/s320/ronel7.jpeg" width="306" height="320" data-original-width="1529" data-original-height="1600" alt="Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight #myth #books Ronel the Mythmaker"/></a></div><BR><h2>Author Bio: </h2> <BR><br />Ronel Janse van Vuuren is the author of New Adult, Young Adult and children’s fiction filled with mythology and folklore. Her dark fantasy stories can be read for free on Wattpad and on her blog Ronel the Mythmaker. She won Fiction Writer of the Year 2016 for her Afrikaans stories on INK: Skryf in Afrikaans. Her published works can be viewed on Goodreads.<br /><br />Ronel can be found tweeting about writing and other things that interest her, arguing with her characters, researching folklore for her newest story or playing with her Rottweilers when she’s not actually writing.<br /><br />All of her books are available for purchase on Amazon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YbEW0xg7_U/W08iIZQjRcI/AAAAAAAABaU/Sp9RIExAb2IuqAe0dDSUNXLZSXHgXPlXACLcBGAs/s1600/Ronel4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YbEW0xg7_U/W08iIZQjRcI/AAAAAAAABaU/Sp9RIExAb2IuqAe0dDSUNXLZSXHgXPlXACLcBGAs/s320/Ronel4.jpeg" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="800" alt="Meet Ronel Janse van Vuuren in this Debut Author Spotlight #myth #books Ronel the Mythmaker" /></a></div><BR><h2>Connect with Ronel on:</h2><br /><br />Amazon: <a href="https://amazon.com/Ronel-Janse-van-Vuuren/e/B078WWK2RR/">http://amazon.com/author/roneljansevanvuurenmythmaker</a><br />Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/@miladyronel/">https://twitter.com/@miladyronel</a>/<br />Pinterest: <a href="https://za.pinterest.com/miladyronel/">https://za.pinterest.com/miladyronel/</a><br />Google+: <a href="https://plus.google.com/+RonelJansevanVuurenMythmaker">https://plus.google.com/+RonelJansevanVuurenMythmaker</a> <br />Goodreads: <a href="https://goodreads.com/author/show/17528826.Ronel_Janse_van_Vuuren">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17528826.Ronel_Janse_van_Vuuren</a> <br />Ronel the Mythmaker: <a href="https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/">https://ronelthemythmaker.wordpress.com/</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/miladyronel/">https://www.instagram.com/miladyronel/?hl=en</a> <br /><BR><BR><center><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=whatarethey-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B07D5W5VBL&amp;asins=B07D5W5VBL&amp;linkId=bcf9c7db4a3bf56a8f7a5aadc807650f&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /> <a href="https://amzn.to/2LuV56G">Once.: Tales, Myths and Legends of Faerie by Ronel Janse van Vuuren</a></center>J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-3093504931169819892018-07-17T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-17T06:00:00.537-05:00Agent NewsI'm taking a break from working on Pass Or Pages stuff to give an update: My agent, Jill Corcoran, has merged her agency with <a href="https://jillcorcoranliteraryagency.com/" target="_blank">Transatlantic Agency</a>. I get to go with her, so I'm part of Transatlantic Agency, now, too! I'm excited for this new phase of my writing journey.Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-87052742506311075472018-07-16T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-16T06:00:05.653-05:00Resurfacing From Creativity ComaI didn't realize my creative brain was asleep until it woke up.<br /><br />It wasn't until about a week and a half ago that I had my first idea for an article...an essay...a blog post...got inspired to work on my YA contemporary novel...wanted to put words on a blank page and soak in the worlds they created, the images they painted.<br /><br />And suddenly, I was on fire. Within about 24 hours, I'd compiled a list of four or five blog posts and essays I wanted to write. It was liberating, empowering, and it was intoxicating.<br /><br />It's not actually the first time I've experienced something like that. Where for days — nay, weeks — on end, my thoughts were asleep. And I barely even realized it.<br /><br />I told myself it wasn't happening; that I had ideas, just not the time to work on them; and that as soon as I was no longer stressed about my housing situation, my work situation, my everything-else situation, I would settle back into writing.<br /><br />But isn't that how it always goes? We don't stop being creative because we <i>want </i>to, or because we've lost the creativity inside of us; we stop being creative because of life circumstances.<br /><br />But that's actually not the purpose of this post. It doesn't really matter what causes a creativity slump; what matters is what we do after they're over. I won't say "to get over them," because honestly, sometimes you just have to wait it out as best you can, in my opinion. You can't force yourself into productivity, nor can you beat yourself up for not being productive if it's just. not. coming.<br /><br />The key thing with a slump, a creativity coma, is how you recover from it.<br /><br />I feel like I'm just now waking up from a long, deep sleep...which is hilarious, because on May 29 I was on a Slump-Busting panel at a blogging conference, and I thought I was recovering from a two-week slump.<br /><br />Oh, how wrong I was.<br /><br />Sure, I got back into reading at that point...but writing? Nope, that didn't come easy. Like I mentioned, it wasn't until about a week and a half ago that I even <i>wanted</i>&nbsp;to write again. That I even <i>had</i>&nbsp;an idea for anything to write. That I even believed I could write again.<br /><br />But I have to take it slow. The other night, I almost freaked right on out because of how much I have to get started doing again — writing for this blog; writing for my own blog; writing for paid publications; writing my novel; reading friends' novels; reading ARCs and reviewing; I could go on. So much more to do!<br /><br />And in that moment, thinking of fitting it all in on top of full-time work, sleeping, commuting, and trying to have a social life felt...impossible.<br /><br />So I slowed myself down. I'm gonna take things one at a time. Make lists. Stick to them. Forgive myself if I don't hit everything on the list. Celebrate my accomplishments. Don't sign up for too much (aka don't overcommit). And more, and more, and more.<br /><br />This blog post is...one of the first steps, actually. A small commitment that I made far enough in advance that I knew I could make it. And. Here. I. Am!<br /><br />Hey, I'll check back in a few weeks from now and let y'all know how it's going! What do you do when you're in your own creativity coma?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKT6xBdydqQ/W0xV_R2omDI/AAAAAAAAGr4/D3RI364yE_kL8AuBOZvWlfx30Gb_-LOfgCLcBGAs/s1600/1309871F-898E-4579-B777-3C7835D429F4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKT6xBdydqQ/W0xV_R2omDI/AAAAAAAAGr4/D3RI364yE_kL8AuBOZvWlfx30Gb_-LOfgCLcBGAs/s320/1309871F-898E-4579-B777-3C7835D429F4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is unrelated. But yay, empty subway train!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Karis Rogersonhttps://plus.google.com/116184245402556340713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-57861491753314760082018-07-12T05:00:00.000-05:002018-07-12T05:00:00.164-05:00Synopsis Critique #24: YA Fantasy<span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, it's time for this week's synopsis critique! The author of LIFE BEGINS WITH MURDER, a YA Fantasy novel, submitted this synopsis. My in-line comments are [</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">blue and in brackets</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">], and I'll include a summary at the end. Feel free to comment below! </span><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span>f you'd like a primer on how to write a synopsis, see my posts&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/01/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-one.html" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/02/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-two-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/forms/d6OzMyIQal7p9JPr1" target="_blank">here</a>, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com. (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></b></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Seventeen-year-old ALLII is Princess Albalia of Sallonia&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span>, a land with two distinctive features – extreme climatic conditions and vast deposits of Sallikan, the world’s most precious metal.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span>Ignored by her father, Allii is befriended by her beloved stepmother, BELLIZZA. Bellizza helps Allii avoid a distasteful marriage. Allii stands by Bellizza when the king and the court turn against her due to her inability to give birth to the much wanted heir to the throne.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span>Then Bellizza is poisoned and all evidence points to Allii. She is incarcerated and denied access to her father and to NANA, the beloved nurse who mothered her. She escapes and flees Sallonia, with the help of a daemon-dog. She is determined to avenge Bellizza and prove her own innocence to her father by finding the real killer. Since she has no access to the murder scene or witnesses, she uses unorthodox means to gain the information she needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">From a woman who lives in a bubble outside time, Allii learns the history that is not in the approved history books. Sallonia once belonged to a race called Muffics who lived close to nature. It was invaded by warlike Sallonians who believed it was their god’s gift to them. Muffics were expelled to the margins of the land; friendly interactions between the two groups outlawed. Allii’s father, a Sallonian prince, and her mother, a Muffic woman loved each other. They eloped and lived together though laws prevented their marriage. Therefore Allii is a bastard and a Halfling, an ‘impure-bred’ despised by both sides. When circumstances forced her father to become king, he abandoned her mother who died soon afterwards.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">From a cousin who made a forbidden union with a Muffic woman Allii learns of the succession-crisis in Sallonia. Chief Minister SHERRIZ and Chief Priest PENA want the king to make a new marriage. The king’s cousin BERNALIN wants to change the laws so that Allii can succeed her father. Another cousin, ROCKRIN and his eldest son BROVNALIN angle for the throne. Halflings plot rebellion.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">From the secret letters Bellizza wrote to her sister Allii discovers that her stepmother had been resisting&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span>attempts to divorce her when she was killed.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">While Allii tries to make sense of the information she has gathered she hears that her father has been killed and Nana locked up. Rockrin is now king.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span>He plans a war of annihilation against Muffics to unify all Sallonians behind him; and to grab the Muffic lands which are believed to contain the last untapped Sallikan ores.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">By putting the clues together Allii concludes that Bellizza was killed by Nana. She manages to reach Nana’s prison and asks her why she killed Bellizza. Nana replies that she wanted the king to remarry and father a non-Halfling heir. She had no idea that her co-conspirators (Sherriz, Pena and Brovnalin) planned to scapegoat Allii. Horrified, she revealed the truth to the king who decided to expose the killers and exonerate Allii. Sherriz and Pena then aligned with Rockrin and murdered the king.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Rockrin surprises Allii and Nana. He confirms Nana’s story. When he tries to kill Allii he is killed by NELLIN, Bellizza’s chief lady-in-waiting.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pena and Brovnalin arrest Bernalin and stage a public show-trial. Allii reveals herself and tells the court and the crowd the truth about who murdered her father and stepmother. She is backed by Nana and Nellin. The crowd turns against Pena and Brovnalin. Sallonian army, consisting mostly of forcible-conscripts, falls into disarray. With Halfling rebels on the march, Sallonian elites agree to make Allii queen.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The quest to uncover Bellizza’s murder&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span>has also been a quest of self-discovery for Allii. Sallonia is home but she doesn’t feel at home there. Her father betrayed her mother and stepmother because he prioritized the crown. She won’t go the same route. When Nellin kills Nana, in revenge for Bellizza’s death, and submits herself to Allii’s justice, Allii walks away sick at heart.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Allii refuses the crown. At her insistence, the conclave comes to a tentative agreement to replace the kingdom with a republic.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Having done what she could to set Sallonia on a less unjust path, Allii leaves. She has realized that she has a talent for at uncovering what is hidden. She will roam the world, investigating mysteries and helping those who are unjustly persecuted. Her birth will not determine her fate; she will.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Comments<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span><span style="background-color: white;">This is a little confusing. I would just say “Seventeen-year-old ALLII is the princess of Sallonia…”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span><span style="background-color: white;">These details are interesting, but don’t seem to be integral to the plot. If you’re trying to cut this down to one page, you can omit these details.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Isn’t Allii the heir to the throne?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span><span style="background-color: white;">What are these unorthodox means? Be specific!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Wouldn’t Allii already know some of this? She knows Bellizza isn’t her real mother, so she must have questioned who her mother was. Was she lied to? Was she led to understand her real mother was Sallonian?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span><span style="background-color: white;">These are all interesting details that add a lot to the main plot, but you need to omit all or most of these names. It muddles the reading. You can rephrase this as “ The Chief Minister and Chief Priest want the king to make a new marriage. The king’s cousin wants to change the laws so that Allii can succeed her father. Another cousin and his eldest son angle for the throne. Halflings plot rebellion.” That way, it’s a lot clearer who’s doing what without getting embroiled in name soup.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span><span style="background-color: white;">I would add “the king’s” here to clarify who’s divorcing who.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span><span style="background-color: white;">Again, I would just say “Allii’s cousin” here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span><span style="background-color: white;">I got a little confused by the end of this paragraph. Go back through and reword, making sure to focus on who’s doing what, and what the consequences are for the main plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span><span style="background-color: white;">You might want to keep Rockrin’s name, since he recurs in the synopsis, but you definitely don’t need to name Nellin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span><span style="background-color: white;">“murderer”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span><span style="background-color: white;">This is a nice ending and good wrap-up for the plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">You’ve got some Name Soup going on here. Limit the proper names to 4-5, tops, to make sure the reader doesn’t get confused. Here, I’d use Allii, Bellizza, Nana, and maybe Rockrin. Everyone else can be described by their relationship to Allii.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">It sounds like a good plot with a lot of action. With that in mind, trying to condense it into a short synopsis was bound to be tricky. I’d go back through and make sure each major plot event is descibed fully (but briefly), in separate sentences or even paragraphs when necessary. Remember, a synopsis is a map of the plot, so you need to make sure the reader can follow the plot from Point A to B to Z.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Overall, nice job, and best of luck with this book!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></div>Jaime Olinhttps://plus.google.com/106364460821210326323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-63798902780076352832018-07-09T05:00:00.000-05:002018-07-09T05:00:12.822-05:00July 2018 Pass Or Pages Entry FormWe are now accepting entries for Pass Or Pages! Before you enter, be sure to <a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/p/passorpages.html">check out the rules</a>. This month's round of Pass Or Pages is for Young Adult contemporary novels. Any entry not falling under that umbrella will be deleted. The entry window closes at 6pm Eastern time on Wednesday July 11th.<br /><br />The form will not allow you to show italics or other formatting, but if your entry is chosen you'll have time to let us know of any formatting you need fixed.<br /><br />Remember, with great power comes great responsibility!<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="520" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce4eASY7fXddsFaxljU7uYy4rt0GdwQLiRMf87JGyZUuDMgw/viewform?embedded=true" width="700">Loading...</iframe>Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-66847420337267593862018-07-05T05:00:00.000-05:002018-07-05T05:00:19.602-05:00Synopsis Critique #23: YA Fantasy<span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">And now, it's time for this week's synopsis critique! The author of EARTH RECLAIMED, a YA Fantasy novel, submitted this synopsis. My in-line comments are [</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">blue and in brackets</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">], and I'll include a summary at the end. Feel free to comment below! </span><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span>f you'd like a primer on how to write a synopsis, see my posts&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/01/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-one.html" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2017/02/tackling-dreaded-synopsis-part-two-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And if you want your synopsis critiqued on this website, fill out the form&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/forms/d6OzMyIQal7p9JPr1" target="_blank">here</a>, or email your 1-2 page synopsis to me at operationawesome6@gmail.com. (NOTE: I'll email my critique to the author as soon as I'm done, so the author won't have to wait to see his/her synopsis on the site). Thanks for participating!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"><br /></b></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Synopsis<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nearly killed by nuclear war, the sentient spirit of planet earth&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span>, know to many as MOTHER EARTH, floods the planet, culling the human population. Scattered across the livable land in independent territories, the humans have one last chance to prove their worth to the planet&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span>. Most technology has been replaced with magic, but a handful of people cling to science, surviving with solar technology and genetic modification.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">17-year-old SEREN MCINTYRE is heir of ASSANA MCINTYRE, the ruler of a sovereign territory called Valley-Port and an ambassador between Mother Earth and humanity. Their connection to the planet allows them to manipulate the elements.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[3][4]</span>However, that connection works two ways. Every time a mage&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span>like Seren uses magic, they risk being controlled by an elemental spirit or Mother Earth Herself.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Growing differences between territories create the potential for a war, something that could lead Mother Earth to rid Herself of the remaining humans.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span>Therefore, dozens of small territories, including Valley-Port, decide to band together as one nation at the inaugural Newly Unified North Eastern State’s (NUNES) convention.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The convention is being hosted 60 miles north at Merry Basin&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span>by TREE-STRONG, a mage whose power rivals Assana’s. Since local elemental spirits won’t allow Assana to leave Valley-Port, Seren embarks to represent Valley<span style="color: #4f81bd;">-[9]</span>accompanied by peacekeeper twins, DAVID and REGGIE. After a day of travels, they arrive in Little Port where Seren meets up with their boyfriend, ERIK.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span>He warns them about Altzis, a group of bigoted strangers loitering in Little Port on their way to NUNES.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">A storm blows up when Seren leaves Little Port, but the ocean spirit is one of the few elementals Seren trusts, so they draw power from her to get through the storm. They make it to Port’s Mouth just before nightfall but are run aground by a sola-powered&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span>barge piloted by scientist who fear mages. Seren pulls their boat out of the water to repair the damage, but can’t find a part they need. Seren makes a bargain with a local smith: retrieve a machine trapped in the GREAT SALT MARSH&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[13]</span>and he’ll make the missing part.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">When Seren returns to Port’s Mouth with the machine, they’re attacked by Altzis.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[14]</span>David and Reggie try to fight them off, but are outnumbered. A desperate Seren overcomes their fear of the elementals to draw power from an unknown river spirit, PISCATAQUA&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[15]</span>, who takes over Seren’s body. Piscataqua uses Seren to scare the fighting humans with a tsunami, making The Altzis drop their weapons and flee.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">After a brief stop in a hostile town, Seren and the twins camp on a riverbank. Local elementals snatch Seren’s spirit from their body and put it in a bird circling an Altzi ship. They discover Erik is held captive on board while the Altzis interrogate him about the elementals defending Valley-Port.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The elementals just want Seren to sink the ship and kill everyone on it. Seren manages to hold the Altzis and raging elementals off long enough for David and Reggie to sneak on board and rescue Erik.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The group makes it to Merry Basin without further incidents, but their troubles are far from over. The delegates, a mix of mages like Seren, Altzis, scientist, and village leaders who lack magic, cannot agree on anything. And Tree-Strong turns out to be so bad at moderating that Seren fears he is trying to cause a war.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">With the help of impish elementals Seren snoops around Tree-Strong’s home, but every time they get close to his office, his security systems nearly kill Seren.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The elementals and Mother Earth grow weary of the human squabbling. When disagreements lead to violence, She uses Seren to give the humans an ultimatum: come to a peaceful agreement by dawn or die.&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[16]</span>A storm blows up. The more people fight, the stronger it gets. It becomes lethal when a man tries to blow up the pier where most NUNES delegates have docked their boats.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">The man appears to be an Altzi, but Seren discovers Tree-Strong used magic to force him to deliver the explosive.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Seren finally bypasses Tree-Strong’s security and finding&nbsp;<span style="color: #4f81bd;">[17]</span>evidence that he engineered Altzi movement in hopes that by scarring people and saving them, they would accept him as their ruler, making NUNES an empire instead of a republic.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Seren imprisons him and moderates the final discussion. The delegates vote to approve the constitution.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">As the sun rises, waters recede, and a rainbow stretches across the land -- a sign that The Mother approves of the outcome. Seren returns home no longer afraid of their power and more confident in their ability to one day fill Assana’s shoes as an Ambassador between Earth and humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Comments<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[1]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: I’m not positive, but I think this should be capitalized as Planet Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[2]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Better clarity if you say they’re trying to prove themselves to Mother Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[3]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Does ‘they’ refer to Seren and Assana? Is Assana a man or woman? Reading through the synopsis, I think Seren is agender, but since the ‘they/them’ pronouns might be unfamiliar to some readers, it’s worth pointing this out upfront<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[4]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Also, what do you mean by their connection to the planet? Can you add a little more detail here?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[5]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: I would use ‘mages’ here, so it aligns with the plural ‘they’ later in the sentence<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[6]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: What does it mean for people to be controlled? I assume that’s a negative thing, but why?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[7]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: I’m wondering why Mother Earth bothered to keep any humans around when she flooded the planet. If she’s just waiting for them to start a war so she can render them extinct, why not just get rid of all of them when she had a chance?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[8]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: You’ve got a lot of character and place names in these first few paragraphs. Unless the place names are significant, I’d omit them and refer to places more generally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[9]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Should be Valley-Port, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[10]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Whose boyfriend is he? The twins’? Seren’s? I’m confused who ‘they’ refers to here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[11]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: There are way too many character names now. You should stick to 4-5 named characters in a synopsis. Skipping ahead, I think you need Seren, Assana, Mother Earth, Erik, and Tree-Strong. The twins can be referred to as ‘the twins,’ and anyone else can be referred to generically, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[12]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: This should be ‘solar-powered’?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[13]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: This doesn’t need to be named<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[14]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Here, I’m not sure if the ‘they’ refers to Seren or Seren, the twins, and Erik.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[15]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Don’t need this proper name. Just say ‘river spirit.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[16]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: Nice stakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd;">[17]</span><span style="background-color: white;">: ‘Finds’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u><span style="background-color: white;">Summary<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">You’ve got a clear plot through-line here, and I have a good idea of where the story goes. Most of my comments are for adding clarity. Doing that through deletion of excess character names will get you a long way. Best of luck with this!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , &quot;helvetica&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="font-family: times, &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif;"></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></div>Jaime Olinhttps://plus.google.com/106364460821210326323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-69741346516002350582018-07-04T00:00:00.000-05:002018-07-04T00:00:09.617-05:00Meet Kat Seaholm in this Debut Author Spotlight<center><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/35606653480_d4ff0d4a4b_o.jpg" width="255" height="230" alt="Debut Author Spotlight from @JLenniDorner on @OpAwesome6"></center><center><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0767N1ZJS&asins=B0767N1ZJS&linkId=14ace9ad6a0e7f48a7698237d43bfc81&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <BR> <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kx1O3S" target="_blank"> In Search of Justice: Book One of the Seeker Files</a></center> <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">1- Any fun outdoor activities planned for this summer?</span><BR><BR>I am currently in my second year of karate, with an end goal of achieving black belt. Every month this summer, I will be doing “Karate in the Park” as well as several workshops including board breaking. I am currently a blue belt in American Kenpo and will be testing for my Advanced Blue in July. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">2- What five words represent your most notable characteristic or values? #In5Words</span><BR><BR> Loyalty, unique, laughter, strength, courage <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">3- What ignited your passion for writing?</span><BR><BR>I have been writing for as long as I can literally remember. Books and stories have always been a part of my life. My favorite day of the week was when we got to go to the library and my family would always max out our library cards, lol. It’s just such a natural part of me that I can’t imagine my life without writing. <BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sw2ewyuF-4/Wzs3DdYPIaI/AAAAAAAABYg/O25XewXSkQId3DQ-88yISzvit8ZFw_IyACLcBGAs/s1600/KatSeaholm1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sw2ewyuF-4/Wzs3DdYPIaI/AAAAAAAABYg/O25XewXSkQId3DQ-88yISzvit8ZFw_IyACLcBGAs/s320/KatSeaholm1.jpeg" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" alt="Meet the cat of author Kat Seaholm in this Debut Author Spotlight"/></a></div><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">4- Would you share a picture with us of your book with one (or more) of your cats?</span><BR><BR>My cats are very active, so getting them to sit still long enough to take a picture was hard, but I managed. Meet Samson, the newest member of our family. In April, we had to say goodbye to our 17 year old Siamese tom, Sassy. It was hard, but we had to do what was best for him. However, we’ve always had a Siamese cat and the lack was quite evident. So after waiting a few months, we found Samson and it was love at first sight. Although we have both male and female cats, our toms tend to grow large, so we thought that he needed a big name to grow into. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">5- What are some of your short and long term writing goals?</span><BR><BR>Short term writing goal is to finish the next book in my series finished “In Search of High Society”. The Seeker Files is planned to be a six-book series, so this will be the halfway point. The first book “In Search of Justice” is about Aletta and Lirim’s partnership forming. Book two, “In Search of Healing” is Aletta’s story. And this book will be Lirim’s story. I’m really looking forward to writing it and getting to know him better. Long term goal is definitely to finish The Seeker Files as well as write a second series called The Starfire Dragon Chronicles. Yes, the series that Aletta reads in the Seeker Files is a real series kicking around in the back of my mind at the moment. After that? We’ll see where the wind takes me 😊 <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">6- What is your favorite book (by someone else), and what do you love most about that book?</span><BR><BR>Oh, this is a hard one. I have so many favorites, including books by <a href="https://amzn.to/2MHOy8U">Brian Jacques</a>, Pride and Prejudice, anything by <a href="https://amzn.to/2MGbXYm">Eric Carle</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2tW31Gs">Mary Calhoun</a>, or <a href="https://amzn.to/2KGZenG">Marguerite Henry</a>. However, if I had to absolutely pick one, it would have to be “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. He created such a vivid in-depth world with such alive characters. Someday, if I work very, very hard, I might someday come close to his talent. I love all of his writing. His characters are so dynamic and alive. Now, I am a bit of a snob, as I rarely like the movie versions of books, but LOTR did an amazing job of capturing it, unlike the Hobbit. My only disappointment is that Tom Bombadil never made it into the movies, but I’m sure that’s because of run time. Also, Sam is the true hero of the series.<BR><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B071SKHMDL&asins=B071SKHMDL&linkId=09b0641048ff8f24c48cc0804705b412&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B011AE735O&asins=B011AE735O&linkId=5cdece590bbcf9903574f5a96f00009c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">7- Who is currently your biggest fan? What does that person love most (or "ship") about your debut novel?</span><BR><BR>I haven’t been very widely read, although that is not the reason that I published my book. Due to an incident during my teens where I almost fell victim to a vanity publisher, I didn’t show my writing to anyone for years. Last year, I grew tired of hiding my writing from the world and dared myself to write a mystery in the month of October and publish it in time for Halloween. I was so burnt out by the end, but I did it. However, my mom is definitely my biggest fan and she enjoys seeing how the characters develop throughout the storyline. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">8- What emotions do you hope your book will evoke for the reader, and is there a particular scene you hope will resonate with readers? </span><BR><BR>I really hope that the readers will connect with the characters as they make their journeys. I want my characters to not just evoke one emotion, but to make readers feel like that are real people that they could run into on the street. In ISOJ, the scene where Lirim and Aletta have lunch and try to work things out is the scene I hope that people relate to. It shows how two completely different individuals can figure out how to work together despite their differences and how people can recognize their own strengths and weaknesses. In ISOH, it’s where Aletta has to tell Lirim about her friend Lena. We all have issues that we tend to push down and run from. When we have to face them, it can be scary and even devastating. However, it can also be healing at the same time, which is why Aletta’s story is called “In Search of Healing” <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">9- What most helped you to improve your writing craft?</span><BR><BR>Now this is funny to admit as an author, but the fact is I absolutely HATE grammar. Grammar and I do not get along well at all, this goes all the way back to my middle school days. However, if I want my books to read well, it’s a necessary hurdle for my writing growth. So my many thanks go to my editor, Jennifer Benson, who helped me edit my two novels and had patience with my endless questions on the subject. My writing has definitely improved thanks to her help and I hope to continue improving as I go forward. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">10- Where is the most interesting or unusual place to which you've traveled? </span><BR><BR>I was privileged to be able to visit Nepal last year with my company. I got to spend three days in a remote village doing community service and then spend another few days playing tourist. One of the cool things was that it is the year 2074 there, so I can say that I’ve been to the future. Also, they were having elections for the first time ever. The royal family was massacred in 2001 and then a corrupt government took over. It has taken time, but they finally got to do elections last year and it was an incredible thing to see. Nepal has a high illiteracy rate, over 80%, so they had pictures of all the candidates. The candidates could only campaign for one week and both men and women were allowed to vote. It was amazing. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">11- What is the most memorable trait or visual oddity of one of your characters?</span><BR><BR>That honor would definitely have to belong to Cass, a pixie who works for HSI. She’s maybe five foot, but all energy and you never know what color her hair will be, it’s been every from fuchsia pink to mermaid aqua with teal highlights. I never know what color she’ll appear with next 😊 <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">12- In what ways are the main characters in your book diverse? <a href="https://diversebooks.org">#WeNeedDiverseBooks</a> </span><BR><BR>I don’t know if my main characters would be considered diverse or not, but Lirim is Supernatural while Aletta is Human. Although this is something that I’ll be expounding on in my third novel, the Fae were forced into hiding for centuries and only reemerged a few hundred years ago. In this world, they would almost definitely be considered a minority. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">13- Which character has your favorite Personality Contradiction?</span><BR><BR>Definitely Cara, the secretary for Captain Jones. She is a very sweet person but cross her and she will bury you in paperwork. She is both the office mother and the enforcer of Captain Jones’s orders. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">14- Does your book hold a mirror up to society, and in what way?</span><BR><BR>I don’t try to spotlight issues in society, what I want is for my books to be entertainment, a welcome respite from day to day stress. But if there is one thing that I would like people to take from my book, is that people are people and everyone has their own journey to make. You never know what other people are going through, sometimes a passing smile from you can mean the world to someone else. So be kind, it’ll make the world a brighter place. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">15- What other books are similar to yours? </span><BR><BR> I think that it bears some resemblance to The Chronicles of Elantra, although it’s hard to define fantasy at times. It’s all so different 😊 <BR><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01BSFQONM&asins=B01BSFQONM&linkId=2e78d325143f56baa5ef547146a46a2a&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe><BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">16- Can you think of any small change in the world you could make to benefit hundreds of other authors or readers potentially?</span><BR><BR>Literacy programs. So many people hate reading because of required reading. They just haven’t been able to find the books that will make them fall in love. My middle brother has dyslexia (which is truly amazing, their brains work in 3D) and did not read until he was eight years old. My mother did not push him and let him work at his own pace, working from the book “The Gift of Dyslexia”. One day she came home and found him reading the encyclopedia about airplanes. Also, many people are Auditory and reading isn’t fun for them, but what about audiobooks? It’s about finding what draws people in and showing them the joy of reading, not just how to read, but why to fall in love with reading. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">17- As a reader, what most motivates you to buy a new book to read?</span><BR><BR>This is a somewhat difficult question for me. I actually don’t buy a lot of books. Now, that doesn’t mean that I don’t read, because I read voraciously. However, libraries have been a major part of my life since I was born. I was even a Children’s librarian for a year and a half. So I usually check out books from my library first. Then, if a book really speaks to me, I will go ahead and buy it. I tend to have a wide taste, so I never know what genre or book will speak to me. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">18- How will you measure your publishing performance? </span><BR><BR>I would really like to see reviews. I want to know what people love about my books, what they hated. Where they think I could’ve left something out or what they want to know more about. Although I would like to make enough to live on from writing, the money has never been an important part of writing for me. It’s about sharing my characters stories with the world in the hopes that someone will enjoy it as much as I do. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">19- What was your favorite part of the #AtoZchallenge 2018? </span><BR><BR>The #AtoZchallenge was chaotic. I really did not know what I was getting myself into. But what I really loved to see was what all of the bloggers were doing. It’s such a simple subject, but it got interpreted so many different ways, each one unique and beautiful. I look forward to participating again. <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">20- What was the deciding factor in your publication route?</span><BR><BR>I have been writing for as long as I can remember. However, after a run-in with a vanity company when I was 15 left me scarred about sharing my writing for the longest time, although I never actually stopped writing. Despite people telling me that they enjoyed my writing, school or work related, never my fiction, I would never share my writing. So last year, I started writing fanfiction and didn’t tell any of my friends or family. I thought that it would be a way to test out my writing and no one would ever know if I flopped terribly. Imagine my surprise at the amazing feedback I was getting. Getting tired of hiding my writing away, I challenged myself to write a mystery in October and publish it in time for Halloween. I couldn’t believe it when I sat down to write and a six-book series popped into my head. I took it and ran with it. I decided to self-publish because a) I was on a deadline b)I didn’t have a lot of money upfront to publish with 3) The idea of finding an agent/publisher was super daunting and I might not have had the courage to go through with it. Amazon was amazing and easy to work with, so I don’t regret this choice at all <BR> (In case you’re curious, my fanfiction is on <a href="http://fanfiction.net">http://fanfiction.net</a> and under Madkat89) <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">21- What's the best book marketing strategy you've come across?</span><BR><BR> I’m still working on this. This is not a strong suit of mine but I’m working on getting better. For me, the important part was getting the books written. Now I need to take off my author hat and put on my publicist one 😊 <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">22- What is one question or discussion topic which you would like the readers of this interview to answer or remark on in the comments?</span><BR><BR>What emotions do readers want to experience when they read my book? What draws them into a book and makes them keep reading? <BR><BR><span style="color: OrangeRed;">23- Anything else you would care to share about your book and yourself?</span><BR><BR><b>In Search of Justice Blurb</b> <BR><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vr8NyvnYq_0/Wzs3Y3zcIII/AAAAAAAABYw/KkWjizmkrYc0m32U_g0zZolfpLwpjXiwwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/KatSeaholm3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vr8NyvnYq_0/Wzs3Y3zcIII/AAAAAAAABYw/KkWjizmkrYc0m32U_g0zZolfpLwpjXiwwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/KatSeaholm3.jpeg" width="200" height="320" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="960" /></a></div> It’s all just fun and games until someone dies. <BR> In a world where supernaturals and humans live side-by-side in peace, that peace can be suddenly shattered. That’s when HSI (Human-Supernatural Investigation) comes into play. <BR> Agent Aletta Sheridan has been with the department for only a little over a month when she’s handed a new case. A murderer is on the loose in Isenton and it’s her job to track the killer down. <BR> Fiercely independent, Aletta is forced by her superiors to partner with another agent. With only a handful of clues to follow, will they be able to stop the killer before anyone else dies? <BR> <BR><BR> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dtt-et7DZpE/Wzs3m3rAKSI/AAAAAAAABYs/5EKtp-omLeQzd6GUobhMfQoTZEwKMvtJgCLcBGAs/s1600/KatSeaholm2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dtt-et7DZpE/Wzs3m3rAKSI/AAAAAAAABYs/5EKtp-omLeQzd6GUobhMfQoTZEwKMvtJgCLcBGAs/s320/KatSeaholm2.jpeg" width="200" height="320" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="960" alt="Meet Kat Seaholm in this Debut Author Spotlight" /></a></div><BR><b>In Search of Healing Blurb</b> <BR><BR> Having survived her first few months at HSI, Agent Aletta is settling into her partnership with Lirim. She is coming to terms with her newfound gift and the threat to her welfare is finally over. Or is it? <BR> Aletta had left everything behind to start over at HSI. But her past is not content to remain where it belongs, in the past. Drawn reluctantly back into her past, she and Lirim race against time at they try to figure out who is behind the attacks on the Canticum Opera Company. <BR> Struggling to fully harness her gift and running from her past, can Aletta and Lirim figure out who is targeting the Canticum Company before time runs out? <BR><BR> <b>Bio</b> <BR> Kat Seaholm lives on a small acreage in Colorado along with her family and way too many cats. The cats also happen to be her hardest critics and push her to improve her writing along with adding more mice and cats to her story. Besides writing, Kat’s other hobbies include traveling, karate, and several needlearts. <BR><BR> <b>Links</b> <BR> <BR><BR> Blog: <a href="https://katseaholm.wordpress.com/">https://katseaholm.wordpress.com</a> <BR> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/KatSeaholmAuthor/">https://www.facebook.com/KatSeaholmAuthor</a> <BR> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/KatSeaholm">@KatSeaholm</a> <BR><BR><BR><center><iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whatarethey-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0767N1ZJS&asins=B0767N1ZJS&linkId=14ace9ad6a0e7f48a7698237d43bfc81&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe> <BR> <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kx1O3S" target="_blank"> In Search of Justice: Book One of the Seeker Files</a></center>J Lenni Dornerhttps://plus.google.com/107810470214665154119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-28888856820725094862018-07-03T06:00:00.000-05:002018-07-07T13:40:26.589-05:00July 2018 Pass Or Pages Agent Panel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meet the agents who are going to critique your <b style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;">Young Adult Contemporary </b>entries!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mq3zYiM6cws/W0EJEdJhhEI/AAAAAAAAETY/kl_Hw7k-3XEzJuFcTDy4Z7J8Vl0ItR8EACLcBGAs/s1600/Whitley%2BAbell%2BHeadshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="1051" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mq3zYiM6cws/W0EJEdJhhEI/AAAAAAAAETY/kl_Hw7k-3XEzJuFcTDy4Z7J8Vl0ItR8EACLcBGAs/s320/Whitley%2BAbell%2BHeadshot.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whitley Abell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jdlit.com/whitley-abell" target="_blank">The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Whitley Abell joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in 2018, where she is actively building her list and is seeking submissions in YA, MG, and select adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. Previously with Inklings Literary Agency, she also interned with the Carol Mann Agency and P.S. Literary Agency, and worked as a medical/S&amp;T journal editor and a sales content project manager. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with degrees in English and Secondary Education, which means she can tell you everything there is to know about feminist literary theory and the Common Core Standards. Whitley is a proud geek—still expecting to find her misplaced Hogwarts letter, the spare key to the TARDIS, or the secret entrance to Narnia—and is beyond thrilled to have found the perfect profession for channeling her fangirl powers: Associate Literary Agent. You can find her on Twitter @whitleyabell.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aU_2ratC2qU/WyHojV0g1kI/AAAAAAAAESI/vr1LpKq5_LUzaFu0d18az_MDXjSrdjRrwCLcBGAs/s1600/JessDallow-210x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="210" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aU_2ratC2qU/WyHojV0g1kI/AAAAAAAAESI/vr1LpKq5_LUzaFu0d18az_MDXjSrdjRrwCLcBGAs/s1600/JessDallow-210x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jess Dallow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://browerliterary.com/team/" target="_blank">Brower Literary and Management</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Having grown up with the same name as her favorite Sweet Valley High twin, Jess has always had a love for books, especially those that feature kickass female characters, child psychopaths, and serial killers. She loves a book that can scare her, that can make her crying when she’s least expecting it, and a book that she can’t put down no matter what time it is or what rerun of SVU is on. She has a BFA in Writing for Film and Television from the University of the Arts and worked in entertainment for eight years before returning to her home state of NY where she worked at a literary agency for two years before joining Brower Literary &amp; Management. Connect on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/JLDallow">@JLDallow</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8tySAsvQKI/V3QudxCO_WI/AAAAAAAADkA/w4Kv6cLaSy4YD0jJtpEWonqQY0bGjp1WgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B9-17-13%2Bat%2B5.45%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="692" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8tySAsvQKI/V3QudxCO_WI/AAAAAAAADkA/w4Kv6cLaSy4YD0jJtpEWonqQY0bGjp1WgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Photo%2Bon%2B9-17-13%2Bat%2B5.45%2BPM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrea Somberg</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.harveyklinger.com/about/harvey/#andrea" target="_blank">Harvey Klinger Literary Agency</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A literary agent for over fifteen years, Andrea represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences. Her clients’ books have been NYTimes and USABestsellers, as well as nominated for The Governor General’s Award, the Lambda Award, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and have been chosen for ABA’s Indies Introduce Program. Andrea is a guest instructor for MediaBistro and Writers Digest. To learn more about her, please visit her <a href="http://www.andreasomberg.com/">website</a> and her <a href="https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/asomberg/">publishers marketplace page</a>.</div><div><br /></div><br />Details for July 2018 Pass or Pages:<br /><br />Entry starts: Monday, July 9 at 6 a.m. Eastern<br />Ends: Wednesday, July 11 at 6 p.m. Eastern<br />Category/Genre: Young Adult Contemporary<br />How To Enter: Fill out the entry form on the contest post when it goes live<br />What Is Required: Your query (NO BIO or personalization for agents), your first 250 words, a complete and polished MS<br /><br />You can also read more about the rules <a href="http://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/p/passorpages.html">here</a>.<br /><br />The winning entries with agent commentary will be posted on Operation Awesome the week of July 23rd, one entry each day. If you aren't comfortable with having your entry (which will be anonymous) shared on the blog, please don't enter Pass or Pages!<br /><br />If you have any questions, please ask in the comments or tweet <a href="http://www.twitter.com/OpAwesome6">@OpAwesome6</a>. Also, feel free to chat about the contest with fellow participants on the hashtag #PassOrPages.Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961445666519156260.post-66437213359425294522018-06-26T06:00:00.000-05:002018-06-26T06:00:19.272-05:00July Pass Or Pages Details<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="480" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rtkaOVRwpzY/WTY4PUDVS8I/AAAAAAAAD5k/MX633bmFkYQF1sx4Vqvb6vbFVh-E8ulbwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/18834616_10103717564273383_362349242_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Operation Awesome is excited to bring you another round of Pass Or Pages! In July, we'll be doing a round focused on <b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Young Adult Contemporary</span></b>&nbsp;novels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the important dates for this round:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">July 3: Agent panel announcement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">July 9-11: Contest entry (via a form here on Operation Awesome)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">July 23-27: Feedback reveals!</div><div><br /></div>For a recap of the rules and links to previous rounds, click <a href="https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/p/passorpages.html">here</a>.<br />Note that for this round only, if you were one of the 64 finalists in Query Kombat you are not eligible to enter Pass Or Pages. Let's give someone else an opportunity for feedback!Kara Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.com0